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Avoid\/reduce stimulants.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine are stimulants and will increase your stress level rather than reduce it (as most of us think it will). Alcohol is a depressant (if taken in large quantities), but it does act as a stimulant in smaller quantities.<\/p>\n Reduce sugar intake<\/strong>.\u00a0 Sugars are contained in many manufactured foods (like salad dressings and, yes, even bread and bagels). Sugar can cause energy spikes and, worse, energy crashes. These crashes make you feel tired and irritable. These are not good for either your physical or mental health.<\/p>\n Indulge in physical activity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Stress affects our levels of adrenaline and cortisol in our body. When we engage in physical activity, that activity helps to reduce the excessive stress hormones and bring a calmer, and more relaxed, state. Even taking a brisk walk can help tremendously. Regular physical activity can also improve the quality of sleep.<\/p>\n Get more sleep.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>We\u2019ve heard this all our lives. Remember when our moms made us go to bed early because they said we needed 10-12 hours of sleep? Your bedroom should be a tranquil place. Blue is the color of the mind. Soft blues calm the mind. Lavender and pale gray are the two colors to create a calm and relaxing environment. Stop doing any demanding work before bedtime and give your brain some downtime to wind down. You can try taking a warm bath or read a calming book. Turn off the TV!<\/p>\n Try relaxing techniques or meditate<\/strong>.\u00a0 Again, there are easy and calming Yoga stretches that bring your body into a calmer and more relaxed state. Some people use self-affirming phrases with words like \u201ccalm,\u201d \u201clove,\u201d and \u201cpeace\u201d. It may be difficult to relax at first because relaxation is a skill we need to learn and which will improve with practice. There are many ways to meditate. Take a deep breath and quiet your mind. Find whatever form of meditation that works for you.<\/p>\n Talk to someone<\/strong>. Stress can cloud your judgment and stop you from seeing things clearly. Talking with a trusted friend, colleague, or professional can help you find solutions. You can even talk to yourself with a little pep talk to not let stress overwhelm you.<\/p>\n Learn to say \u2018No.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Most of us have too much to do and not enough time in which to do it. And yet, many people still take on additional responsibility. Saying \u2018No\u2019 to unimportant requests will help to reduce stress.We tend to say \u2018Yes\u2019 because we want to be nice and to be liked.<\/p>\n Help someone else<\/strong>. One of the best ways to deal with stress is to help someone.When you focus on others, you take the focus off your own stress and problems. There\u2019s an ancient Buddhist saying….. \u201cWhen you light the way for another\u2026you simultaneously light your own way\u201d.<\/p>\n One of our main goals at American Retirement Advisors is to help relieve the stress in finding the most appropriate coverage for you and your family.We are happy to assist!<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"