The Victoria Napolitano Bookstore Mademoiselle 2019 VIctoria Napolitano | Page 68
5 Quick Stress Busters
How do you react when your plans fall
through? Do you roll with the punches? Or
does anxiety keep you from enjoying life? To
a great extent, our personality determines how
we deal with stress in our lives, but here are 5
things to help keep your stress under control:
1. Sleep more. It’s very common in our society
to exist on less than 6 hours of sleep a night.
But experts keep telling us we need at least 8
hours. Not just to rest our bodies, but to reju-
venate our minds. “Tired” and “cranky” seem
to go hand in hand. Don’t use your bedroom
to watch the news or finish up some work
from the office. Make that room your haven,
a place to relax and escape the day. Have a hot
cup of tea, take a warm bath, or read a paper-
back to help you unwind.
2.
Have faith. Saying a short prayer in
times of stress can give you a sense of calm,
especially when the situation is one you really
have no control over. Studies have shown that
people who trust in a higher power have lower
blood pressure. Being able to forgive people
also can affect your blood pressure. Holding a
grudge is not good for your health!
3.
Turn it off. The convenience that cell
phones have added to our lives can actually be
a double-edged sword. We depend on them
so much it seems we can’t live without them.
This increased accessibility means not only can
our loved ones reach us at any time, but so can
work. If your employer legitimately needs to
have your cell phone number, make sure you
set clear limits on when you can and cannot be
reached. Your time off is yours.
4.
Take a holiday. It doesn’t have to be
a fancy vacation resort. A day at the beach,
or an afternoon at the park will do. Just any-
where you can be and not think about the bills,
work, or whatever tensions you may have. It’s
important to take time for yourself, so do it!
You’ll feel better with a fresh outlook.
5.
Treat yourself. Sign up for a yoga
class at your local gym or community center.
The costs are nominal, and you’ll feel more re-
laxed after even just one session. A monthly
massage or a spa treatment is also a great way
to recharge. You’ll walk out feeling like a mil-
lion dollar bowl of jelly.
Stress is unavoidable. But what we do about it
is up to us. Experiment with these suggestions
and see what works for you!