Stress is often referred to as the “Silent Killer” as it does not typically produce symptoms or physical signs until it’s too late. Stress can contribute to a variety of health problems including heart disease and heart attacks. But, with changes in lifestyle, diet and removal of harmful environmental factors, many of the effects of stress can be reduced or even avoided.

Time Management Tips

Some stress is created through busy schedules, mismanagement of time and feelings of becoming overwhelmed. Despite many people’s best efforts, they are still not skilled at managing their personal or professional time. Here are some easy tips to implement into your life that can assist you in the area of time management:

• Balanced Schedule- One of the leading causes of stress is the feeling as if you are being pulled in many different directions, never able to properly focus on one area of your life. By working to create a balanced schedule, focusing time on personal, social, physical and professional areas, you can work to reduce the feelings of stress within your life.
• Don’t Over Commit Yourself- Some people have a hard time saying no when they are asked to complete tasks or to take on extra work loads. Be aware of what you can manage in terms of time and don’t take on more than you can manage as this behaviour can significantly impact the stress that you feel within your life.
• Prioritize- Some tasks are not important and can wait to be completed. Learn to prioritize your schedule, focusing on the most important tasks first. And, work to become more proactive than reactive as this will significantly reduce your personal stress levels.
• Delegate- If someone else can complete a task for you, delegate it. Learning how to delegate can significantly reduce your levels of stress.

Nurture Yourself

In addition to working on time management, there are a variety of things that you can do personally that will reduce your levels of stress. Many people often state that they feel overwhelmed or stressed as they rarely have time for themselves. Or, they don’t make time to recharge their personal energy levels, contributing to the feelings of overwhelm.

Here are some things that you can consider implementing into your life to nurture yourself:

• Relaxation Time-Schedule time into your busy schedule to relax. While this may seem initially silly to some, if you are busy and relying on a schedule, it will be essential that you schedule time into your calendar to relax.
• Surround Yourself with Support- Social support such as family members, loved ones and good friends can provide much needed social support during stressful times. And, as you enjoy their company, they can also be a great stress relief.
• Do Things You Love- Make it a priority to do at least one thing every day that you love. Whether it is art, listening to music, taking a bath or talking on the phone to a good friend, doing things that you love on a daily basis will help to reduce your stress levels.

In addition to the above activities, here is a list of things that you can easily implement within your life that will reduce your stress levels:

• Taking a walk in nature
• Talking to good friends in person or on the phone
• Exercising to release natural endorphins
• Writing in a journal
• Watching a comedy
• Visiting or petting a family pet
• Spending time in your garden
• Making an appointment to have a massage
• Reading
• Yoga
• Meditation sessions
• Listening to your favourite music