April is National Stress Awareness Month

1 — TAKE A BREAK FROM THE STRESSOR:  It may seem difficult to get away from a big work project, a crying baby or a growing credit card bill. But when you give yourself permission to step away from it, you let yourself have time to do something else, which can help you have a new perspective or practice techniques to feel less overwhelmed.

2 — EXERCISE: The research keeps growing — exercise benefits your mind just as well as your body. We keep hearing about the long-term benefits of a regular exercise routine. But even a 20-minute walk, run, swim or dance session in the midst of a stressful time can give an immediate effect that can last for several hours.

3 — SMILE AND LAUGH: Our brains are interconnected with our emotions and facial expressions. When people are stressed, they often hold a lot of the stress in their face. So laughs or smiles can help relieve some of that tension and improve the situation.

4 — GET SOCIAL SUPPORT: Call a friend, send an email. When you share your concerns or feelings with another person, it does help relieve stress. But it’s important that the person whom you talk to is someone whom you trust and whom you feel can understand and validate you.

5 — MEDITATE: Meditation and mindful prayer help the mind and body to relax and focus. Mindfulness can help people see new perspectives, develop self-compassion and forgiveness. When practicing a form of mindfulness, people can release emotions that may have been causing the body physical stress.

Need further assistance? The City of Houston has an internal Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counselors available to help you with workplace stressors. Contact them by phone at 832-393-6510 or employeeassistanceprogram@houstontx.gov 

Source: APA.org