Cooperative Living February 2021 - 25

* Identify what's causing stress and take action.
TIPS FOR REDUCING S
TIPS FOR REDUCING STRESS
* Build strong, positive relationships: Connect with supportive
friends and family members when you're having a difficult time.
* Get regular exercise, eat nourishing food and participate in
activities you enjoy.
* Stay focused on the positive and avoid negative energy.
* Avoid drugs and alcohol.
*Rest your mind: Sleep, do yoga, meditate and perform
relaxation exercises that can help restore energy.
* Get help from a psychologist when you're overwhelmed.
Courtesy American Psychological Association at apa.org.
a week, and build up your routine. " For example, park your
car farther away from the store when you're running errands
or march in place when you are on conference calls.
Weisner recommends following Walk With Ease's five-step
approach for a good and safe walking routine. " Your walk
is more than the walking part, " she says. " For the first five
minutes, do a slow warm up of your muscles followed by a
few gentle stretches. Then walk at your own pace for your
own amount of time. When you've finished, take another five
minutes to cool down by walking slowly and stretch again.
This will help prevent muscle soreness and reduce the risk
of injury. "
For maximum effectiveness, build up to 30 minutes a day
close, intimate relationships with other
people, " Maddux says. " The most
extroverted and social person requires
some alone time to recharge. The risk
is going to the extreme in either case. "
Finding a trusted friend or family
member to use as a sounding board,
someone who will be candid yet
sensitive to feelings, is an excellent
way to deal with issues. Talking
through a problem can help break
the cycle of trying to figure out a
solution on your own.
THE VALUE OF EXERCISE
Exercise, just getting moving, can
be another way to cope with daily
stressors. " Exercising is an excellent
mechanism for managing stress, "
Maddux says. " Taking a walk,
meditating or doing yoga can
positively influence your outlook. "
co-opliving.com
for five days. " This can be done in two 15-minute walks
or three 10-minute walks. The goal is to eventually walk
about 150 minutes a week to reap the greatest benefits.
" If you need to start more slowly or miss a few days or
a week, don't get discouraged, " she says. " Create a walking
program that works for you and your lifestyle. The key is
to start where you are, set achievable goals and realize that
you're doing a positive thing for yourself. It's a good habit
to get into that will give you long-term benefits for your
overall health and wellness. " 
Pamela A. Keene is a freelance journalist who specializes
in travel, gardening, personality and feature writing, and
contributes to The Tennessee Magazine.
For additional tips from the American Psychological Association's
website for better mental health and coping with stress, visit
apa.org/topics/stress-tips.
According to a study published by
the American Depression and Anxiety
Association, exercise leads the way in
suggestions for dealing with stress.
Findings show that nearly 30%
of health care providers recommend
walking, followed by 20% who suggest
running. Eleven percent cite yoga as
a good strategy for stress relief.
" The relationship between regular
physical activity and good mental
health is one of the strongest of all
relationships, " Maddux says.
LEARNING TO SAY 'NO'
Stressors can come in many
forms from family pressure to work
demands, dealing with health
conditions - your own or those of
a loved one - or simply trying to
take care of everyone around you
without taking care of yourself.
" One of the most important words
in the English language is 'no,' but it's
also the hardest one to say, especially
to a loved one or an important person
in your life, " Maddux says. " However,
if you can learn to say 'no' to avoid
getting overly committed, you've taken
an invaluable first step in managing
your controllable stressors. "
If these issues become seemingly
insurmountable, Maddux suggests
seeking professional help.
" Realize that you can have control
over the things that are holding you
back. Exercise, meditation, getting
better control over your schedule
and nurturing your
relationships with
friends, family and coworkers
can help you
improve your mental
well-being. " 
February 2021 | Cooperative Living | 23
http://www.apa.org http://www.apa.org/topics/stress-tips http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living February 2021

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