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Issue 4 > Ten tips to help you manage stress.

Ten tips to help you manage stress.

Kate James provides some 'chill' counsel.

We all know stress has a negative impact on not only our emotional wellbeing, but it can ultimately lead to a range of very serious physical ailments, too. Don't wait until you're diagnosed with high blood pressure or heart disease to manage stress.

Learn to monitor your stress levels throughout your day and practise techniques to bring back that sense of calm. If necessary, set yourself a reminder in your email program to ensure you make time to de-stress.

These strategies will help you manage stress.

1 Know your priorities. Look at all of the different areas of your life including career, partner relationship, family, friends, health, finances, creativity and self care and think about what is most important to you. What are your personal values? What is your definition of success? Make sure you plan time for activities that you find pleasurable and for the things that really matter.

2 Choose your attitude. Having a positive outlook really makes a difference. Each morning before your feet hit the floor think about three things you're grateful for.

3 Make time to relax. One of the things that is missing for many people is that little bit of space where we simply stop and do nothing. Practise yoga, tai chi or meditation to help you learn to physically and mentally relax.

4 Breathe. Taking a few deep breaths is one of the most effective ways to reduce and manage stress. Here's a simple breathing exercise. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Breathe deep into the abdomen, taking the breath deep into the belly and allowing the ribs to expand out to the sides and the belly to the front, hold the breath for a moment and breathe out using a loud 'sigh' sound. Repeat at least seven times, making each breath slower, longer and quieter.

5 Get healthy. Exercise is one of the key factors to reducing stress as it not only increases your fitness level which provides you with more energy, it is also the best way to flood your system with positive hormones which counteract the impact of the negative stress hormones. Remember to eat a healthy diet with lots of fresh vegetables, drink at least two litres of water each day and replace coffee and tea with herbal alternatives.

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