Tips to Manage Anxiety and Stress

When you're feeling anxious or stressed, these strategies will help you cope: *.Take a time-out.Practice yoga, listen to music, meditate, get a massage, or learn relaxation techniques. Stepping back from the problem helps clear your head. *.Eat well-balanced meals.Do not skip any meals. Do keep healthful, energy-boosting snacks on hand. *.Limit alcohol and caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety and trigger panic attacks. *.Get enough sleep.When stressed, your body needs additional sleep and rest. *.Exercise dailyto help you feel good and maintain your health. Check out the fitness tips below. *.Take deep breaths. Inhale and exhale slowly. *.Count to 10 slowly. Repeat, and count to 20 if necessary. *.Do your best. Instead of aiming for perfection, which isn't possible, be proud of however close you get. *.Accept that you cannot control everything. Put your stress in perspective: Is it really as bad as you think? *.Welcome humor. A good laugh goes a long way. *.Maintain a positive attitude. Make an effort to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. *.Get involved.Volunteer or find another way to be active in your community, which creates a support network and gives you a break from everyday stress. *.Learn what triggers your anxiety.Is it work, family, school, or something else you can identify? Write in a journal when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, and look for a pattern. *.Talk to someone.Tell friends and family you’re feeling overwhelmed, and let them know how they can help you. Talk to a physician or therapist for professional help. *.Get help online. Lanternoffers online programs guided by professional coaches to help you turn healthy anxiety management into a habit.(Sponsored) Fitness Tips: Stay Healthy, Manage Stress For the biggest benefits of exercise, try to include at least 2½ hours of moderate-intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking) each week, 1¼ hours of a vigorous-intensity activity (such as jogging or swimming laps), or a combination of the two. *.5 X 30:Jog, walk, bike, or dance three to five times a week for 30 minutes. *.Set small daily goalsand aim for daily consistency rather than perfect workouts. It's better to walk every day for 15-20 minutes than to wait until the weekend for a three-hour fitness marathon. Lots of scientific data suggests that frequency is most important. *.Find forms of exercisethat are fun or enjoyable. Extroverted people often like classes and group activities. People who are more introverted often prefer solo pursuits. *.Distract yourselfwith an iPod or other portable media player to download audiobooks, podcasts, or music. Many people find it’s more fun to exercise while listening to something they enjoy. *.Recruitan “exercise buddy.” It's often easier to stick to your exercise routine when you have to stay committed to a friend, partner, or colleague. *.Be patientwhen you start a new exercise program. Most sedentary people require about four to eight weeks to feel coordinated and sufficiently in shape so that exercise feels easier. http://www.adaa.org/tips-manage-anxiety-and-stress