LEARNING TO HANDLE STRESS

Everybody experiences stress. A certain amount is even good for you. Too much
stress can damage your physical, emotional, and mental health. Since it is not
always possible to prevent stress, we all need to learn how to reduce it. Choose
among the following techniques what you think will work best for you. Make them
part of your everyday life.

1. PREVENT IT. How much stress do you cause just by putting
unnecessary pressure on yourself? Do you over react to little things that annoy
you? Every time you let anger or frustration take control, it drains away good
energy and sidetracks you from more important things. Obviously, you can't
always control what goes on around you, but you can control how you respond. Try
a little more patience next time you get caught in traffic and you'll avoid
unnecessary stress.

2. SET GOALS. Some people drift through life going from crisis to
crisis letting stress build up. If you set goals, you can take better control of
your life. Think where you'd like to be in 1 year or 5 years. Be realistic by
starting with small, daily goals, then build up from there. Re-evaluate your
goals from time to time and be prepared to adjust them as changes occur in your
life.

3. ESTABLISH PRIORITIES. Do you often feel rushed because "there's no
time"? Why not regulate the pace of your life? Plan ahead. Make a list of tasks
in order of priority. Concentrate on what's really important to you and drop
those things that only waste your energy.

4. TAKE TIME OUT. Spend a few minutes alone each day to break the
routine. This helps ease stress and gives you a better perspective of what's
around you. Set aside time during the week for recreation, hobbies, or exercise.
Regular exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress. Physical fitness gives
you a feeling of well-being by relieving tension and increasing productivity.

5. HAVE FAITH. Peace of mind comes to those who trust in God's power
to lessen life's burdens through prayer.

6. THINK POSITIVELY. Having a positive attitude will help you assert
yourself and feel more in control. You waste energy if you constantly criticize
yourself or set unrealistic goals. Negative thoughts generally produce negative
results. Instead of saying, "I can't," practice saying, "I can." You'll be
surprised how much more you can accomplish.

7. HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR. Laughter can be one of the best medicines
for stress. Being able to laugh at yourself and the world can break tension and
give you some relief from stress.

8. COMMUNICATE. Suffering in silence only increases the stress you
build up inside. Talk over your feelings and concerns with your family, a
friend, counselor, preacher, or health professional. "Thinking out loud" like
this not only relieves stress, but may also shed new light on your problems.
Learn to listen and consider suggestions with an open mind.

9. MAKE DECISIONS. Most people have no idea how much stress they
create for themselves by resisting change. They wait, hoping a situation will go
back to the way it was. Why wait when you have choices and could make a
decision? When it's time to change old habits and move forward, make your own
change for the better.