Relier Pairs WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESSVersion en ligne MATCH THE HEADINGS TO THE INFORMATION par VERSHNEV ZEUS DAMIAN ROMERO 1 8. Bond with Your Pet 2 9. Take a Vacation 3 7. Sleep Enough 4 1. Re-balance Work and Home 5 6. Practice Meditation, Stress Reduction or Yoga 6 3. Eat Well and Limit Alcohol and Stimulants 7 4. Connect with Supportive People 8 5. Carve out Hobby Time 9 2. Build in Regular Exercise 10 10. See a Counselor, Coach or Therapist If negative thoughts overwhelm your ability to make positive changes, it’s time to seek professional help. Make an appointment today—your health and life are worth it. If you get less than seven to eight hours of sleep, your body won’t tolerate stress as well as it could. If stress keeps you up at night, address the cause and add extra meditation into your day to make up for the lost z’s. Alcohol, nicotine and caffeine may temporarily relieve stress but have negative health impacts and can make stress worse in the long run. Well-nourished bodies cope better, so start with a good breakfast, add more organic fruits and vegetables, avoid processed foods and sugar, and drink more water. Relaxation techniques activate a state of restfulness that counterbalances your body’s fight-or-flight hormones. Consider taking a mindfulness-based stress reduction course to learn effective, lasting tools. All work and no play? If you’re spending too much time at the office, intentionally put more dates in your calendar to enjoy time for fun, either alone or with others. Do you enjoy gardening, reading, listening to music or some other creative pursuit? Engage in activities that bring you pleasure and joy; research shows that reduces stress by almost half and lowers your heart rate, too. Moving your body on a regular basis balances the nervous system and increases blood circulation, helping to flush out stress hormones. Even a daily 20-minute walk makes a difference. Clinical studies show that spending even a short time with a companion animal can cut anxiety levels almost in half. Talking face to face with another person releases hormones that reduce stress. Lean on those good listeners in your life. Getting away from it all can reset your stress tolerance by increasing your mental and emotional outlook, which makes you a happier, more productive person upon return. Leave your cellphone and laptop at home!