Posted by kathryn in Mental & emotional health

Hands up who’s stressed? Seems it’s become a normal part of our lives these days. We experience it at work, running for the bus, driving in City traffic, around our relatives and ferrying the kids around.

A certain amount of stress can be useful, especially when trying to make a deadline! Too much stress on the other hand can cause health problems, both physical and mental.

Are you stressed?

While we all react to stress slightly differently, there are some classic signs. Think back over the last week, how many of these have you experienced?

• headaches
• heart palpitations
• nausea
• increased alcohol, cigarettes or coffee intake
• a change in appetite
• sweating
• constipation or diarrhoea
• feeling tense or anxious
• a lack of enthusiasm
• tiredness
• inability to concentrate
• getting angry more easily
• forgetfulnes
• problems sleeping

If you can say “yes” to two or more, then chances are you’ve been stressed.

Some simple strategies for managing stress

While stress may be a part of modern life, this doesn’t mean we should sit back and passively let it take hold. There will always be difficulties and problems in your life, which makes learning how to manage stress an important life skill.

Simple, easy strategies are what we need. Strategies we can practice and implement on a regular basis. I’ve posted some of my favourite and personal strategies before:

• Vent your feelings
• Spend 5 minutes breathing mindfully
• Get outside in the sunshine
• Don’t just sit at your desk, go and chat to a colleague
• Go for a 20 minute walk
• Take some time out from the energy drainers in your life
• Do something for yourself
• Cross something off your to do list
• Phone a friend
• Take a break from your day and make a cup of tea

I try to do one or two of these every day. While I don’t always manage it, I’ve learnt the value of taking time out to clear my head and reflect on what’s happening.

While these are my top strategies, what do you do to keep calm during the day? Or does the stress monster run your day? On a scale of one to ten, how stressed are you at the moment?

It’s Mental Health Week here at Limes & Lycopene. To see what’s happening around the blogosphere check the technorati tags: “mental health week” and mental health week.

10 October, 2007