Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Fall 2017

lakeregional.com 7 Make connections. Connecting with friends, fam- ily and co-workers is a great stress-buster. Try to talk, email or write to a friend or loved one every day. Discussing your problems with someone you trust can help put things in perspective. But don’t think you have to focus only on your troubles. Talk about your joys and hopes for the future, too. And remember, communica- tion isn’t the only way to make a meaningful connection. Some people find volunteer work to be a valuable way not only to help others, but also to ease their own stress. Get physical. Exercise is a stress-buster. It can help relieve mental and physical tension and reduce anxiety and depression. It also can help you relax and sleep better and improve your sense of well-being. Seek some slumber. Your body needs plenty of rest to beat stress. If you aren’t getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night, take a look at your bedtime habits. Do you go to bed at about the same time every night? Is your bedroom dark, quiet, cool and comfortable? Are you avoiding distractions, like late-night TV or computer work? Ditch the bad habits. Smoking, drinking beverages containing alcohol or caffeine, and eating a poor diet can all make you more vulnerable to the harmful effects of stress. If you’re having trouble changing these behaviors on your own, talk to your primary care provider. He or she can direct you toward the help you need. Laugh. Out loud, if you can. You’ll feel better. Finally, if these DIY methods for stress relief aren’t working as well as you’d like, it might be time to talk to a health profes- sional who can help you better understand and deal with your stress. Ask your pri- mary care provider to point you in the right direction.