What's causing your stress?

If you identify the cause(s), you can stop the negative effects of stress in your life.

Is there something or someone in your life that's causing you this anxiety? You may need to make some challenging, but empowering, decisions regarding your job, personal relationships, and who you spend time with.

Ask for help.

If you're constantly running on empty, your mind, body, and soul will suffer the repercussions of your tenacity. There's no shame in asking for a helping hand. Sometimes, you'll be able lean on a spouse, coworker, or friend, but other times you may have to hire help.

• If your mounting responsibilities are barely allowing you the necessary time to eat and sleep, you may have too much on your plate. Streamline your responsibilities by creating a time-effective plan for crossing the items off of your to-do list in less time.
  
  
• Most people are delighted to be needed and will be more than willing to help you. If housework is the culprit of your stress, divide the tasks equally amongst the family members in your household.

Socialize!

Making time for socializing with friends and family is a vital aspect of managing your stress levels. Friends and family make you laugh and provides you with a shoulder to lean on. This, in itself, will deplete your stress levels exponentially.

• If possible, designate one day per week (like Sundays) to spend time with extended family and friends. You could host a neighborhood barbeque in your backyard, host a Sport Sunday gathering, or simply have coffee with your closest pals.
   
• Living far away from friends and family can truly dampen your ability to socialize. You can meet friends at church, neighborhood gatherings, at the park with your kids, or on the community meeting site, MeetUp.com to find a group of like-minded folks.
   
• When hosting events in your home, avoid fretting about the details. This will counteract your efforts to de-stress! Have a simple plan, such as using paper plates, napkins and plastic utensils for easy cleanup. Perhaps you can order pizza rather than cooking.

Set aside time for yourself.

What do you enjoy doing? Knitting, relaxing in a bubble bath, drawing, lounging in bed watching reruns of the Golden Girls? Indulge yourself in your favorite lazy activity a few times each week.

• Carve out a few hours each weekend to indulge in your favorite lazy activity. Choose at least one weeknight to relax after work. Sitting in a candlelit bubble bath while listening to your favorite CD and reading a magazine is an effective treatment for washing the day's stresses away.
    
• Refrain from feeling selfish for taking time for yourself. You may be a busy professional, a spouse, a parent and have a home to maintain all at the same time; however, taking two hours now to de-stress will save you from going into overdrive and possibly stressing out your loved ones later.

Here are several tutorials on relieving your stress:

The Top 4 Signs You Are Totally Stressed Out

How To Calm Down When You Are Totally Stressed Out

6 Secrets To Lower Your Stress In Any Situation

Play your troubles away.

Exercise is a great way to unwind and relieve the worry in your life. But exercise doesn't have to involve a lengthy, strenuous workout session at the gym. Anything fun that gets your body moving will do the trick.

• When you exert yourself physically, your body releases endorphins. These endorphins act like your body's natural "feel good drug."
   
• Play with your kids after work. Run around the yard to get your blood pumping. Jog around the block and feel your stress melt away.

Stretch and flex.

Many professionals recommend an exercise for stress relief that involves stretching and flexing your muscles. With practice, this exercise can help you calm down quickly and feel more in control amidst the storms of your life.

• Tense each muscle in your body, one at a time, and hold for a few seconds. Then release each muscle slowly. Repeat with each muscle group. Practice as often as possible and call upon this tensing and releasing technique whenever you need instant stress relief.
    
• Sometimes, simply stretching tense muscles alleviates stress. Stretching your muscles allows more blood to flow into them and relaxes them. The more relaxed your muscles are, the calmer your mind will be and the easier it'll be to focus on attaining the results you desire.

Get some rest.

Your body needs enough rest to recharge and maintain peak condition. Most of us aren't getting adequate sleep. When you lose sleep, it's so much easier to become irritated and let things get to you.

• A "power nap" is perfect for getting your rest quickly, especially if you have a busy schedule. Instead of lying in bed and taking a full nap, try closing your eyes in a quiet room for about 15 to 20 minutes. A shorter nap can often be more effective and provide a greater boost of energy to help you sail through your remaining tasks.

Practice yoga and meditation.

Yoga and meditation are ancient arts that have been proven to work. They can be practiced separately or together. When you connect the mind, body, and spirit in a healthy, peaceful fashion you feel more relaxed and rejuvenated.

Lie in bed and just listen to the rain.

Make a surprise call to an old friend.

Engage in purposeful, stimulating conversation.

Spend the day at the beach -- any time.

Spend time with puppies, babies, and kittens.

Take that surprise road trip.

Go to a really good concert.

Bake homemade cookies for the entire office.

Treat yourself to a free day.

Learn something new and exciting.

Get lost in a great book.

Treat family to a really great night.

Buy a present -- just because.

Do that promised home improvement.

Have yourself a really good cry.

Finish that important project.

Enjoy moderate, pleasurable exercise like bike or swim.

Remove your watch and go for a timeless walk.

Give a hug, a kiss or an orgasm (these all release endorphins).

Cultivate interest in music you love.

Make some music you love.

Select from 3 cards and send to 3 people just because.

Spend the day downtown and pretend you are a tourist.

Play with your children today, all day!

Tell somebody how much you appreciate them.

Smile at everyone you see today.

Take a walk or bike ride on a new route.

Always meditate and practice mindful breathing all days.

Go to an arts event of some kind even if you don’t think you will enjoy it.

Dance like a pro!

Cook your spouse a favorite meal.

Reduce all sugar, caffeine, alcohol just for 1 week.

Get back in touch with someone you miss.

Pay someone to come and clean out the garage.

Organize your closet.

Do a kind deed but don’t tell.

Spend the whole day at the Spa.

Wear wild colors today, all day.

Buy 2 bunches of flowers. One to keep and one to give.

Go for aromatherapy or reflexology.

Pre-pay the toll for the car following you.

Volunteer your time at a food bank or soup kitchen.

Don’t just volunteer your time, volunteer you!

Go on tour with Mother Nature (see the woods, mountains, desert).

Update your photo album.