If enjoying your life more is one of your New Year’s resolutions, you might want to learn how to manage stress better. The following is a short list of and behaviors for reducing stress and creating stress resilience. See how many of these describe you.
Knowing how to relax: You need to know how to let go of tension, and be able to relax your body and quiet your mind.
Eat right and exercise often: Be careful about what you put into your mouth. Engage in some form of physical activity regularly during the week.
Get enough sleep: Try not to burn the candle at both ends. Get to sleep at an hour that ensures that you can get enough rest.
Don’t worry about the unimportant stuff: Learn the difference between what is truly important and what is not. Put things into perspective.
Don’t get angry often: Avoid losing your temper, but if you do become angry, try to remain in control of your anger so that it doesn’t become destructive.
Get organized: Feel a sense of control over your environment. A cluttered and disorganized life leads to a stressed life.
Manage your time efficiently: Know how to use time effectively. Be in control of your schedule.
Create a strong social support system: Spend time with your family, friends, and acquaintances. Have people in your life who listen to you and care for you.
Live according to your values: Know what is important and what is not. Make sure your goals are significant and worthwhile.
Develop a good sense of humor: Laugh at life’s hassles and annoyances. Be able to laugh at yourself, and don’t take yourself too seriously.
If you’re not able to check off all (or any!) of the above, don’t worry — you can change old habits and learn new ones. Managing your stress is not a magical process, but rather one that means mastering new behaviors and finding new ways of looking at yourself and your world.