Start a STRESS JOURNAL
A stress journal can help you identify the things in your life which regularly cause you stress. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in a journal. As you do this, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Write down:
- What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure)
- How you felt, both physically and emotionally
- How you acted in response
- What you did to make yourself feel better
Look a how you currently cope with stress
Think about how you currently cope with stress in your life. A stress journal can help you identify them. Have you ever thought about whether your coping strategies are healthy or unhealthy? Helpful or unproductive?
A stress journal can help you identify the things in your life which regularly cause you stress. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in a journal. As you do this, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Write down:
- What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure)
- How you felt, both physically and emotionally
- How you acted in response
- What you did to make yourself feel better
Look a how you currently cope with stress
Think about how you currently cope with stress in your life. A stress journal can help you identify them. Have you ever thought about whether your coping strategies are healthy or unhealthy? Helpful or unproductive?
![Picture](/uploads/2/1/3/3/21336000/6245216.jpg?506)
Some UNHEALTHY ways of coping with stress include:
- Smoking, drinking or taking drugs to relax or get your mind off things
- Overeating or under-eating
- Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or a computer or even a phone
- Withdrawing form friends, family and activities
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Procrastinating
- Filling up every minute of your day to avoid facing problems
- Taking your stress out on people or items with angry outbursts or physical violence
These strategies may temporarily reduce stress but in the long run they can cause A LOT of damage!
- Smoking, drinking or taking drugs to relax or get your mind off things
- Overeating or under-eating
- Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or a computer or even a phone
- Withdrawing form friends, family and activities
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Procrastinating
- Filling up every minute of your day to avoid facing problems
- Taking your stress out on people or items with angry outbursts or physical violence
These strategies may temporarily reduce stress but in the long run they can cause A LOT of damage!
![Picture](/uploads/2/1/3/3/21336000/2658651.jpg?510)
Healthy ways to relax and recharge:
- Go for a walk
- Spend time in nature
- Call a good friend
- Sweat out tension with a good workout
- Write in your journal
- Savour a warm cup of tea or coffee
- Play with a pet
- Curl up with a good book
- Listen to music
- Watch a comedy
- Take a long bath
- Light scented candles
- Go for a walk
- Spend time in nature
- Call a good friend
- Sweat out tension with a good workout
- Write in your journal
- Savour a warm cup of tea or coffee
- Play with a pet
- Curl up with a good book
- Listen to music
- Watch a comedy
- Take a long bath
- Light scented candles