Jinny Hopp, former Human Environmental Sciences Specialist in Jasper County, University of Missouri Extension
One of the best ways to protect your health is to reduce the unhealthy stress in your life. Research continues to show us that too much stress robs us of sleep, causes us to gain or lose too much weight, causes headaches, etc. Too much stress also destroys emotional ties with the people we live and work with on a daily basis. Although you can’t completely eliminate stress from your life, here are some steps you can take to manage your stress in ways that lead to greater health and happiness.
Value your time
Practice saying “no” to added demands on your personal time. Consider what’s really important to you and your family when deciding how to use your time. Re-evaluate your priorities as your family changes over the life span. When faced with a demanding project, break it into manageable steps and avoid procrastination. When you achieve a goal, no matter how small, celebrate your accomplishments…
Build fun and relaxation into your daily and long-term plans
Even if you can only take 5 minutes a day to do it, think of something fun or relaxing you can do for 5 minutes each day…
For additional tips on reducing the stress in your life, see the full version of this article at http://missourifamilies.org/
