Although stress affects us all at one time or another, there is some good news – we can manage it by taking a few important measures to bring calm to our lives.

Here are some simple ways to reduce the affects of stress

Eat Properly – Eat regularly, eat the right foods and do NOT skip breakfast. Eat as naturally as you can from the earth and avoid refined processed products. Eat plenty of green foods, lean protein and oily fish. For stress-busting supplements take magnesium, zinc, omega-3, vitamin C and finally a vitamin B complex supplement.

Avoid information overload – Do you have so many things to do and no time to do them? Then calm down and make a list of what can be done in 5 minutes or less. Once that is done, prioritize your tasks and see if you can delegate them away to others.

Take a “time out” – Always got your cell phone on? Always thinking about doing things? Well STOP. Try turning your phone off just to relax for at least 30 minutes each day. You can unwind with a bath, listen to classical music, or simply sit in silence.

Learn to say no – Be blunt if someone takes up your time and you don’t want them to – be polite, but firm, and don’t let them unnecessarily use your time.

Exercise – Getting your heart pumping is a great stress buster and you do not need to spend hours in the gym. Just take part in gentle exercise to get your heart rate up. Our bodies and minds function much better when we are fit and in top shape. If you don’t like the gym try brisk walking for 30 minutes a day or a mind and body exercise like yoga or Tai Chi.

Breathe deeply – A simple quick trick to reduce stress and calm you is to breathe deeply. Take a very deep breath and hold for 4 seconds, then exhale very slowly. As you blow out you are releasing stress from your body. Try to do this for at least
5 minutes a day.

Stress buster

Release neck tension with this exercise:
Stress and anxiety often lead to an aching neck. Poor posture also plays a role. The following stretch can help relieve tension in your neck and surrounding muscles.

• To begin, relax your shoulders and let your head roll forward, placing your chin to your chest. Next, slowly rotate your head in a circle without straining your neck. Repeat five times. Relax for a moment, then rotate in the opposite direction and repeat five times. Remember not to raise your shoulders as you do this exercise.

Source: American Council on Exercise, or ACE, at http://www.acefitness.org.