Choose a Stress Management Habit

Stress occurs when you are overwhelmed by issues and responsibilities in your life. To find a stress management habit that will help you to manage stress you must identify the causes of stress in your life, seek help in choosing a stress management technique, and pick a strategy that will fit into your lifestyle.

Steps

 * 1) Determine what causes your stress.[[Image:Choose a Stress Management Habit Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) * Before you learn how to choose a stress management habit, figure out what areas in your life are causing you stress. Record every incident that causes you stress in a journal. Describe the place where the stressful incident occurred, the people involved in the incident, and the task or tasks you were attempting to complete during the stressful episode.
 * 3) * Rate your level of stress from 1 to 10 with 1 being no stress and 10 being the most stress you've every experienced. Tracking these incidents will help you to identify your stress triggers such as family conflict, work deadlines and childcare issues.
 * 4) * Stress can cause headaches, gastrointestinal problems, depressions, mood swings, insomnia and other problems. Use your journal to record the emotional and physical impact stressful situations have on you.
 * 5) Get help choosing a stress management habit.[[Image:Choose a Stress Management Habit Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 6) * Working with a therapist is a good way to choose a stress management habit. A therapist can evaluate the causes of your stress and help you to narrow down the techniques that will be most helpful to minimizing your stress.
 * 7) * Stress reduction techniques recommendations from a licensed therapist may include such things as breathing exercises, meditation or regular physical exercise.
 * 8) * Discuss the recommendations with your therapist to determine which techniques you are willing to try. A therapist can provide you with a description of a stress management technique and offer suggestions regarding how and when you should use the technique and for how long to reduce your stress level.
 * 9) Choose a stress management habit that will fit into your lifestyle.[[Image:Choose a Stress Management Habit Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 10) * The stress management technique you pick should be something you enjoy doing and that you will make time for. The technique should also compliment your personality type. If you enjoy socializing with others, for example, joining a gym or a social group may reduce your stress. However, if your stress level goes down when you have time alone, meditation or yoga at home are techniques that you are likely to do on a regular basis.
 * 11) * Techniques that increase your level of stress, even though they maybe effective for others, should be discontinued and avoided. Keeping a journal will help you to track the stress techniques that work for you and those that don't.

Things You'll Need

 * Journal

Related wikiHows

 * Do Stress Reduction Techniques

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-management/MY00435
 * http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/StressManagement/FightStressWithHealthyHabits/Fight-Stress-with-Healthy-Habits_UCM_307992_Article.jsp
 * http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm