stress me NOT!♥Reduce Stress Part I

Rule # 1: Avoid Unnecessary Stress
Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.
Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.
Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore have a friend go with you.
Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.

UNHEALTHY WAYS TO DEAL WITH STRESS!
These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run:

-Smoking
-Drinking too much
-Overeating or undereating
-Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer
-Withdrawing from friends, family, and
activities
-Using pills or drugs to relax
-Sleeping too much
-Procrastinating
-Filling up every minute of the day
to avoid facing problems
-Taking out your stress on others (lashing out,
angry outbursts, physical violence)
My Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm
Healthy Kisses-Nikki♥