A psychiatrist explains a 5-step plan for outsmarting stress
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Doctors keep telling us to get rid of the stress in our lives but, for most of us, this is an unrealistic option.
Unless you are planning to move to a desert island any time soon, stress is an inevitable part of daily life.
The key is learning how to manage it and to make the most of it.
The funny thing about stress is how it takes us away from the very things that would help us combat it.
We retreat into bad habits like staying up all night, binge watching TV, gorging on junk food and skipping workouts.
We withdraw from friends, we are reluctant to try new things and we don’t make time for our favorite hobbies.
The result is a double dose of stress.
The good news is, with a little patience and perseverance, you can learn to become stress-hardy.
Create a personal reservoir of resilience to inoculate you against setbacks and keep you strong, even in the face of stress.
Here’s how:
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
1. Hold the door open for a stranger
Studies show that when we help others we help ourselves. Small gestures like opening a door for a stranger, holding the elevator, bringing a coworker coffee and asking someone if they need help mitigate daily stress.
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2. Take the stairs
Exercise plays a key role in dampening the effects of stress. Do your best to build more movement into every day.
Flickr/Alex
3. Grin and bear it
Smiling during stressful moments can reduce your body’s physical and mental response to stress.
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