Stress Tips for your Relationship

1. Know your triggers
Work out exactly what's stressing you. Personal coach Glen Pattison suggests writing down which occasions are stressful, or trigger any feelings of anger or anxiety. This will help you identify which events or activities cause the stress, and how you can avoid these circumstances.

2. Prioritise
Decide what's really important to you, and what isn't. Intersperse your stressful chores with something relaxing. A recent US study indicates that daily pleasant events have positive effects on the immune system.

3. Exercise
"To get more energy, you have to do more exercise. If you really want to be able to get through every task you have set yourself, you need energy to do it or you will become stressed and tired," says Pattison.

4. Simplify
If you can't handle the idea of cooking every night, or doing the cleaning, get some help. Whether you get someone in to do these chores for a while, or ask your family and friends for help, losing that burden will help you lose the stress.

5. Solve your Problems
Better problem-solving can stop you getting to that stressed-out point, says Pattison. He recommends asking yourself the following few questions:
· What is the problem?
· What caused it?
· What are my options?
· What is my best option?
And don't worry if that decision turns out to be the wrong one. As Pattison says "People will forgive you if you own up to it."

6. Learn to say no
It's not the easiest thing to learn, but start saying no to things occasionally.

7. Sleep well
Quality sleep is crucial for your health and wellbeing. Pattison suggests making sure your room is as dark as you can make it, using ear plug if necessary and using a fan to create white noise to help you drift off.

8. Have a laugh
Research shows that humour is a very effective mechanism for coping with acute stress. Laughter not only release endorphins (the feel-good hormones), but it can also be good for your heart.

source: Sunday Herald Sun, Body & Soul, 11.11.01