Stress Reduction Tips & Strategies

u003colu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/why-stress-management-important/u0022u003eWhy Stress Management is Importantu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/stress-reduction-strategies/u0022u003eStress Reduction Tips u0026amp; Strategiesu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/resources/videos/how-stress-can-be-good/u0022u003eHow Stress Can Be Good for Youu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003e

u003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eExercises:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernThere will be exercises associated with each lesson that you will be able to u003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Stress-Management-Worksheets-compressed.pdfu0022u003edownload hereu003c/au003e or u003ca href=u0022https://recovery.force.com/app/s/login/?ec=302u0026amp;startURL=%2Fapp%2Fs%2Fu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopener external nofollowu0022u003eaccess through our portal.u003c/au003ernu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eMedically-reviewed articles:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/#Who_Is_at_Risk_For_Stressu0022u003eWho Is at Risk For Stress?u003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-statistics/u0022u003eHow Common Is Stress?u003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-myths/u0022u003e9 Common Myths About Stressu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/harmful-effects-of-stress/u0022u003ePhysical Effects of Stressu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-management-techniques/u0022u003e10 Stress Management Techniquesu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eWebinars:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/critical-events-stress-management/u0022u003eCritical Events and Stress Managementu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/secondary-trauma-vs-vicarious/u0022u003eSecondary Trauma vs Vicarious Traumau003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e

u003ch3u003eStress Management Part 2u003c/h3u003ernu003ciu003eIn this lesson we will be going over Stress Reduction Strategies.u003c/iu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eOnce you identify your stress triggersu003c/bu003e (the events, situations, people and problems that you experience as stressful),u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eand identify the signals in your body and mind that alert you to stressu003c/bu003e (like fatigue, irritability, headaches, eating or drinking more),u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003e u003cbu003eyou can decide how you want to manage the stressu003c/bu003e. (Go back to the video about u003ciu003eWhy Stress Management is Importantu003c/iu003e if you need help identifying your triggers and reactions to stress).u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003cbu003eCombat the stress with one or more of the following strategies.u003c/bu003ernu003colu003ern tu003cliu003eu003cbu003eu003c/bu003e u003cbu003eChange the situation.u003c/bu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003ernu003cbu003eProblemu003c/bu003e–u003cbu003esolving by prioritizing, delegating and focusingu003c/bu003e are all ways to address problem situations at home or at work.rnrnRecognizing that a situation is creating stress allows you to decide whether there is a problem to be solved and how to go about solving it.rnrnFor example, you notice that working full time and having sole responsibility for managing the household and the kids is creating stress. Can you u003cbu003edelegateu003c/bu003e some of those tasks or u003cbu003eprioritizeu003c/bu003e them differently?rnrnOr, you feel overwhelmed when you get to work. Can you set your u003cbu003eprioritiesu003c/bu003e for tomorrow’s work before you leave so you don’t feel overwhelmed the next day?rnrnImprove your u003cbu003efocusu003c/bu003e by leaving issues at home behind when you get to work. Leave work issues behind when you go home so you can u003cbu003efocusu003c/bu003e on what you need to do at home.rnrnSeeing a stressful situation as a problem to be solved and taking steps to solve that problem is a stress reducer.rnrnu003cbu003eClear, assertive communication u003c/bu003eis an important stress management tool. Should you talk to your boss or your partner about a situation that is creating stress for you? Doing so in a calm, clear manner is assertive, not aggressive. It’s also taking action to change a situation instead of being a passive participant. Passivity increases stress.rnu003col start=u00222u0022u003ern tu003cliu003eu003cbu003eu003c/bu003e u003cbu003eChange your reaction.u003c/bu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003ernu003cbu003eNegative self-talku003c/bu003e, like, u003ciu003eThere’s no way I can get this done, u003c/iu003eincreases stress. Change it to positive self-talk, u003ciu003eThis will be a challenge, but I’ll try my best to get it done, u003c/iu003eto make stressful situations feel more manageable.rnrnu003cbu003eCatastrophizingu003c/bu003e (making a situation much worse in your mind than it really is) and u003cbu003eperfectionismu003c/bu003e (u003ciu003eI’m never going to be able to get this rightu003c/iu003e) create stress. Questioning catastrophic predictions, setting appropriate expectations and being realistic about your abilities, reduce stress.rnrnu003cbu003eOptimism u003c/bu003eis the ability to see the positive in a situation. Optimism is a stress buffer. It can be cultivated, like changing negative self-talk, with practice. Notice that you see the glass as half-empty (u003ciu003eI’m not making enough money)u003c/iu003e and try to see how it could be half-full u003ciu003e(I’m paying all my bills)u003c/iu003e.rnrnu003cbu003ePersonal values,u003c/bu003e and the extent to which our behavior is consistent with those values, affect how we experience stress. The more your actions are consistent with your values, the less stressed you feel. When you identify behavior at odds with your values, changing it to be more in line with your values lowers stress.rnrnu003cbu003eRelaxation strategies u003c/bu003eare useful in the moment of stress. A brief time out can help you cope better.rnu003culu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eGo for a short walk or do some stretching or yoga.u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eWalk away and count to 10 when you’re angry.u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eTake a few minutes to close your eyes and breathe slowly, meditate or take a break from what you’re doing.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003col start=u00223u0022u003ern tu003cliu003eu003cbu003eGeneral strategies to optimize your ability to manage stress.u003c/bu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/olu003ernA healthy lifestyle enables you to cope with everything better. There’s another video about healthy lifestyles.rnrnThese are a few lifestyle points to keep in mind when it comes to stress.rnrnu003cbu003eSocial support u003c/bu003eis your most important resource for managing stress. These are the people you can share with, depend on if you need something and for whom you will do the same. Make time and space for them.rnrnu003cbu003eTime managementu003c/bu003e means intentionally managing the time you spend in various activities. Change your routines to adapt to a stressful environment by making time for healthy activities. Fitting in a 20-minute walk may even improve your productivity at work or at home. So will limiting multitasking.rnrnu003cbu003eSleep, exercise, diet and spiritual practices u003c/bu003eare all important in reducing stress. They also tend to be the first things you cut back on when you are experiencing stress. Try to safeguard them all. They give you the physical and cognitive resources you need to face challenges.rnrnThank you for choosing The Recovery Village.  If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse and would like to find out more about the programs we offer, please reach out to us directly at u003ca href=u0022tel:855-387-3291u0022u003e855-387-3291u003c/au003e.