Stress Management Part2

Below are some more tips our psychics provided in managing stress.

Indulge in some stress-eating.

It turns out, not all stress-eating — turning to food to calm your nerves when you’re feeling tense and tired — is bad. But going for empty calories like candy, chips or ice cream isn’t the right way to go about it; in fact, relying on these foods for comfort can actually increase your stress in the long run, as they contribute to high blood pressure, obesity and other health issues over time. Even in the short run, they can add to emotional stress simply due to the feelings of guilt and failure that eating unhealthy snacks can inspire. Instead, go for proven tension-busting foods like avocados, pistachios and other nuts, salmon, oatmeal, milk and spinach. These foods contain nutrients like calcium (milk, spinach), vitami E (pistachios and other nuts), omega-3 fatty acids (salmon), potassium (avocados), and fiber (oatmeal, avocados) that are known to cut down on fatigue and the stress hormone cortisol, while helping you feel comfortably full — so you won’t end up reaching for that bag of potato chips in rna weak moment, and then regretting it later. Try grabbing a bowl of oatmeal with milk for breakfast, adding avocado or salmon to your spinach salad at lunch, or downing your meal with a glass of milk. You can even keep packets of instant oatmeal or bags of pistachios and almonds in your purse or your desk at work, for a quick pick-me-up when you need it most.

When something upsetting happens, write it down.

Writing in a journal doesn’t need to become a regular daily practice — yet another task to squeeze into your already endless to-do list — and it doesn’t have to take long. Just a few minutes of writing down your thoughts and feelings about the argument you had with your spouse or that upsetting email from your boss can significantly reduce the tension you might otherwise bottle up inside. Jou aling about your feelings not only gives you a safe and much-needed space to vent; it can also help you gain a new perspective on the situation, or even brainstorm strategies for resolving the issue. Keep a journal in your bedside table drawer so you can jot down a few sentences at night before bed, or keep a file on your computer that you can pull up and add to whenever you need to vent.

Don’t bottle it up — talk it out with someone you trust.

Though it might seem nobler to keep it to yourself when someone’s comment or behavior shocks or annoys you, it can actually be a much more effective stress-buster to go ahead and open up to a trusted friend, coworker or other confidant about your reaction to the situation. This isn’t about malicious gossip; it’s simply about getting irritation and other tense feelings off your chest in order to release steam. Also, just like writing in a journal, talking things over with someone else can help you gain a different, better perspective.