Submitted by Bedford Youth and Family Services
How does sitting in traffic sound to you? What about arguing with your children? Being late on a work deadline? These activities likely make you feel stressed, but there are some quick and easy steps you can take to combat stress before it becomes a problem.
Take deep breaths. Focus on breathing in deeply through your nose and breathing out slowly through your mouth which can imitate the relaxed feeling your body gets when it’s sleeping.
Practice acceptance. Next time you find yourself stressed out about something you can’t change, focus on acceptance. Long commute? Tell yourself you have accepted it, it’s part of your life, and you’re doing your best to make the most of it. It’s more empowering than you think!
Assume positive intent. Next time you find yourself stewing about something a person said or did, try assuming that their intent was good. This can be especially helpful in the workplace.
If stress has you tied up in knots and these simple management techniques are not working, check your mental health with this screening at www.bedfordma.gov/youth under the “screenings” section.
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