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| Tips for effective stress management |
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 Identify stressors: try to identify stressors that can be avoided. Sometimes the stressors will be things that cannot be changed. If this is the case, try to think of ways you can alter your response to them. Even identifying what the triggers are, can help you feel more in control. It may be helpful to write them down. External factors include things like work, family cross cultural community, unpredictable events, etc… Internal factors include unrealistic expectations, perfectionism and worry. Identifying stressors - recognizing the triggers that cause it, avoiding those that can be avoided and evaluating what to do about those that cannot be avoided - is exactly the process we need to engage in to manage and balance our lives. * Develop an action plan Prioritize and plan your days ahead of time rather than reacting to circumstances as they arise. This will help you feel more in control of your life. Daily events can be contextualized in light of your long term goals and plans. You can make daily and weekly plans in accordance with long term plans instead of reacting to daily events as they occur. Organize your time and your environment. If you know where things are, you won't have to spend unnecessary time looking for things you have misplaced and also avoid the stress that these types of scenarios create. * Practice tolerance Try to be more tolerant of yourself and of situations over which you have no control. Frantic, harried reactions drain energy that can be used more productively and erode any sense of enjoyment or peace. Cultivating healthy attitudes, like patience, and choosing to adopt a calm presence of mind are beneficial in maintaining balance and control. But also remember to accept that a certain degree of stress is normal … especially when living overseas. * Exercise The stress response is physical in nature and physical exercise is one of the biggest tools for managing stress. Exercise is also a mental "time out" from other things that may be pressing. A study last year determined that exercise in green space "boosts mental health" - the biggest effect demonstrated in just five minutes. Build exercise into your daily schedule. Give yourself permission to devote 30 minutes to this every day. The benefits are numerous. * Eating well A well-balanced diet provides us adequate energy to handle daily stress. Snacks high in sugar and carbs (which we tend to reach for when we are stressed or pressed for time!) provide a short burst of energy but they can leave us feeling drained and even more tired in a few hours. Rather than crunching through a bag of potato chips, reach for a granola bar, an apple or some carrots! (Source: ihm.ca)   Socialize this Subscribe to our RSS feed to stay in touch and receive all of TT updates right in your feed reader
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