How To Cope With Stress

The first step to coping with stress is identifying what stresses you and doing everything you can to minimise these triggers. It's important to take action to relieve damaging stress before it affects your physical or mental health.

While it’s not easy, try to keep a positive attitude and accept offers of practical help if necessary. Be aware of spending time in the company of people who are critical and draining and accept that there are just some events you can’t control.

When it comes to family stress, it is your ability to handle the stress, not suppress it, that makes the difference. When problems begin to arise (as they always will), find the time put them on the table for family discussion. Avoiding problems almost always intensifies them. Discuss them, come to an agreeable situation, and move on!

Get everyone involved in family chores and tasks around the home. This is especially necessary when both mom and dad work. Everyone should know what needs to be done, and when. Get the children involved, too. It is insanity to have mom or dad running around like an idiot trying to get things done while perfectly capable children sit and watch. The most common response to this seems to be "they do more damage than good! It's better that I just do it myself." That situation arises only out of lack of training and direction. In years past, young children were often responsible enough to handle certain "age specific" tasks.

An unhealthy lifestyle aggravates stress. Think about your diet, habits, work environment and family lifestyle.

Do you start the day well rested?
Do you have a good nutritious breakfast to get your energy levels up?
Is your diet healthy?
Do you regularly rush into work late, or stressed by the journey?
Do conditions at work add to your stress - overcrowding, lack of personal space, too much noise, dirt or mess?
Do you need caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol to get you through the day?

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