10 Basic Stress Management Tips

Things may happen in your life, but you are the one who chooses to react to them the way that you do. The following 10 tips can help you take charge of your reaction to stressful situations. Every kind of stress will bend to one of these tips.

1. Avoid unnecessary stress by saying "no." Don't take on more responsibility when you at or near your limit. If there is someone in your life who causes you stress, limit the amount of time you spend with the person or stop the connection completely.

2. Avoid unnecessary stress by doing something differently. If television news upsets you, turn it off. If talking about certain subjects disturbs you, change the subject or simply walk away. Analyze your list of things to do and put "musts" at the top and "shoulds" and others at the bottom or simply cross them off the list.

3. Alter your situation with negotiation. If someone or something bothers you, talk about it with the person involved, openly and respectfully. Be willing to compromise to find a situation with which you both can be satisfied.

4. Alter your situation by taking control. Be more assertive with those who encroach on your space or your time. Do it respectfully, but firmly. Better time management can help, too. Plan ahead so you don't get caught short of time.

5. Adapt to the source of stress. Take a different perspective on things. A long line at the bank for an important transaction can give you time to plan. Step back from the situation and consider how important it will be in a month or a year. Don't be a perfectionist. Be a "glass is half full" kind of person.

6. Accept things you can't control. You can't control the way other people behave, but you can choose how you react. Sharing your feelings with a trust friend can help vent some of your own frustrations.

7. Look for the "silver lining." There is an old saying, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." If you're still breathing, count that as a blessing. Look for personal growth and learn from your mistakes.

8. Learn to forgive. Holding onto resentment is one of the most unhealthy ball-and-chains anyone can carry. Let it go—all of it.

9. Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Make time for fun and relaxation. Exercise regularly. Eat a healthy diet. Reduce or eliminate caffeine and sugar. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. And get enough sleep.

10. Corporate training. The previous 9 tips were only the beginning. For more in-depth understanding of the sources of stress and how to deal with them, stress management training can help you master this topic. Online training courses make it easy to acquire this stress training. Such e-learning allows you to do it on your own schedule and at your own pace. That makes it practically stress free.