Healthy, Happy and Stress Free - By: AnnA Rushton

As a health writer for 20 years I realized I knew a lot about how to deal with stress, so I started putting it into action. Now everyone comments on how calm, relaxed and grounded I am - and you can be too by making some simple lifestyle changes. We know that stress can destroy health, happiness and relationships and that's something I have personal experience of, as I am sure you have too. For many of us we are moody, have problems sleeping and usually head for those comforters of food or alcohol.

When we are stressed our normal routines can be hard to hold on to. We don't eat properly, we aren't sleeping well and there is just too much to do in any one day. I learned that establishing a regular routine will help you feel more in control and therefore less stressed.

Try to establish a good diet with not too many stimulants or overuse of tobacco or alcohol and if you are not sleeping well, don't stay up late at night until you hope you will be tired, instead try to maintain a regular time that you go to bed and get up each day, and this will help your internal body clock

Look at what you have to fit into a day and realistically try to establish priorities. What is essential, what would be good to do and what could be postponed? The feeling of achievement you get from actually completing something will really make you feel good and one way to do that is to get those important things done first.

Some simple tips: Does your stress come from too many people making demands on you so that you often find yourself saying "yes" when in fact you mean "no"? Are you always late for things? Do you get frustrated knowing you could have done a better job if you had organised your time better? |It's about simplifying your daily routine so have a close look at it and see what changes are possible for you to make. If saying no is a problem then that is something that won't change overnight, and you might want to get some expert help from an assertiveness management course or book.

Don't pick something that has real emotional attachment for you, but start by saying no to something easy and unimportant to you. You get to practice in safety and it is much easier on things like saying no to an extra cup of coffee or not taking a free leaflet from someone in the street. It's not always easy to say no, but practice makes perfect.

Remember you have the right to say no to someone else who is making demands of you. Be pleasant, and clear and tell them you appreciate them asking, but it's not something you can do right now.Stop justifying your actions to yourself or others because that truly can be very stressful and it isn't necessary. Believe it or not, you can just say no - though if you have always said yes then it might prove a hard habit to break. Remember, it can be done and you don't have to justify your reasons for refusal to anyone. It might take a bit of practice, but it is definitely a stress reducer.

Dealing with stress can be daunting, but you can do it. Don't try and do too much, you will only get overwhelmed, so stick to just one small action at a time to feel you have really achieved something. Take it slowly and you won't get overwhelmed, but you will start to feel better.

About the Author

AnnA is an inspirational writer and speaker on health, personal development and creativity. Many people have found her ebook,'How To Handle Stress' a valuable resource and there's more on that at http://www.sortingstressout.com plus a bonus report on how your life attitude can affect your health, and longevity. There is also free information and email newsletters at http://www.catalystonline.co.uk

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/AnnA-Rushton/44861

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