Healthy Habits to Help Manage Stress

Practicing good basic health habits provides you with the energy you need to cope with stress, like: eating regular, nutritious meals, and limiting your intake of foods high in sugar and caffeine, since these can aggravate stress.

In addition to good nutrition, getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night will help your overall health.

Another way to cope with stress is to develop a network of caring friends and relatives who will listen to problems, provide companionship, and simply be there when you need them.

Regular exercise is another important health habit -- walking, jogging, bicycling, aerobics. Any sport can help relieve muscle tension and release pent-up energy. In addition, exercise can make you feel good. It can help you think more clearly, and feel better about yourself.

Making time for yourself for things you enjoy and find relaxing is as important as scheduling your time at work.

“I’ve realized that I cannot put myself at the bottom of a list of things to do anymore, that I have to make time for myself.”

Time spent away from your everyday routine with family, friends, or even by yourself can help change your perspective on things.

For major life changes or crises, professional help may be advisable. Community groups, churches, and schools often provide counseling and support groups to help people through these events.

In our day-to-day lives, too often we become stressed-out by a world that heaps change on us.

That’s why learning to manage stress in healthy ways is one of the most important things we can do to achieve a healthier, productive and rewarding life. #