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As if you don't have enough to worry about, April is Stress Awareness Month. But don't let it make you anxious. According to a 2010 American Psychological Association study, a majority of Americans experience moderate or high levels of stress, but are "stymied in their efforts to make changes."
More than three quarters of Americans stress out about something related to work, according to the 2011 Work Stress Survey. The survey of nearly 1,000 adults found that 77 percent of Americans are stressed by at least one thing at work. Fourteen percent of adults ranked low pay as the top stressor, followed by their commute, at 11 percent, "unreasonable workloads," at nine percent and fear of being fired or laid off, also at nine percent.
Stress is the body's response to circumstances that force it to act, change or adjust. It once served a purpose. When our ancestors came across a Siberian tiger, it stressed them out and rightfully so. That stress caused an involuntary change in the body (fight, or perhaps flight?), which resulted in an extra burst of energy, which, in turn possibly saved their life. It was helpful a few thousand years ago and can still be so if you happen upon a Siberian tiger.
Here are some quick and effective strategies that can help you manage stress (but that might not help with that tiger).
Breathe. Slow things down and increase the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream with some deep, calming deep breaths.
Meditate. Meditation is gaining popularity as a stress management technique because practicing consistently helps build resistance toward future stressors. Meditation can be simple to learn and five minutes of doing so can help relieve stress.
Take a deep breath. Smelling something pleasing and healthful -- aromatherapy -- is a passive stress reliever. Lavender, a popular herb, has been shown to reduce cortisol (a hormone related to stress) levels in the bloodstream.
Exercise. Even if it's for a short period of time, a burst of exercise can provide distraction and increase the level of endorphins in your bloodstream.
Laugh. A sense of humor can relieve stress in the form of distraction (it's hard to worry when you're busy guffawing.) Laughter is also a reminder that some stressors might not be as menacing as they seem. At least, that is -- while you're laughing.
How do you alleviate stress? Let me know here.
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