Stress is a part of everyday life. It is believed that a manageable level of stress is essential for healthy living. However when the level of stress become too high and lasts for too long it can affect every part of a persons life, from their relationships to their health.

When you see a stress problem with yourself or another person, you need to know how to relieve stress. Here is a list of suggestions to help you do so:

  • Try to understand the cause of the stress
    It could be that it is being caused by the actions of others, an upcoming event, lack of sleep, financial problems, illness (many people get stressed up before they get a cold), an injury, allergies or some other event. It is important that you take time to understand the cause of your stress.
  • Remove as many causes as possible
    Always you first action should be to try to remove the cause of the stress.
  • Diet and Exercise
    The healthier and fitter you are, the greater your ability to cope with increased stress. Exercise has an added benefit too. It helps toughen your mental attitude. Where it is not possible to remove the cause you can at least increase your ability to cope with it by ensuring your mind and body are as strong as possible.
  • Sleep
    Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep will increase your stress levels. Your mind also has the ability to solve problems while you sleep, so use it as one of your problem solving tools.
  • Adopt a positive mental attitude.
    If you make up your mind that your stress is something you will either remove or learn to live with, then a small milestone has been reached. Unless you are determined to solve the problem, you will allow it to remain.
  • Time out
    Set aside 30 minutes each day where you can sit quietly, with the TV and other distractions turned off. Perhaps listening to classical music - there are some good relaxation CDs available. This will help you gather your thoughts.
  • Learn to Meditate
    Meditation is practiced by many successful people who hold down highly stressful jobs. They find it helps them focus and separate the important from the urgent in their life.
  • Adopt short term goals
    When faced with a challenge, break it down into smaller achievable goals. Make up a plan to achieve each one and reward yourself when you achieve each goal.
  • Associate with positive people.
    There are some people in this world who spend their whole day talking about problems and worries. These people are contagious in that they end up making everyone they associate with feel bad. Move away from them. Try to spend time with people who acknowledge stress but have a positive outlook to life.
  • Learn to breath.
    It may sound strange, but proper breathing is essential to good health and will help you cope with stress. It works by helping your body to relax. Try breathing in slowly for a count of 7 then breathing out for a count of 11. Repeat this 7-11 pattern until you have relaxed.
  • Find a mentor
    Look for someone who has encountered the same cause to the stress you are experiencing and who has overcome it. Its likely they will be happy to give you a few tips to overcoming your problem. Just remember, everyone is different so make sure that if you follow advice, that it “feels right” for you.
  • Seek Qualified Medical Help
    If after a short time of tyring to deal with high stress levels, you feel you aren’t coping, see a professional. They are trained to help and will likely have the experience of how to relieve stress for others in a similar situation to you.