By Remez Sasson

Stress consumes your time and energy and weakens your immune system. It causes restlessness, unhappiness, impatience and anger. It can harm your life, ambitions, relationships and health. There is no doubt that it better to live without it.

There are various methods to reduce, control and manage stress. Some stress management techniques may suit some people, and other techniques may suit other people.

In my opinion, one of the best methods for stress management is meditation. It exerts a calming effect on the body, nerves, and blood pressure. It reduces restlessness and brings peace of mind, detachment and equanimity. To start tasting the benefits of meditation you need to meditate everyday for some time. The problem is that not everyone has the perseverance, discipline and desire to meditate and persevere in this practice, even though the benefits are great.

In this short article I don't intend to analyze the reasons for stress, neither describe programs for stress management and reduction. I only want to suggest some tips to help you reduce stress.

It is not always possible to control or eliminate the reasons of stress, but it is possible to perform certain actions that might reduce and alleviate it. You cannot always control the conditions of your life and your circumstances, but you can learn to choose not to be internally influenced by them too much.

The following tips for stress management serve as first aid against stress. They will not prevent it, but they can reduce or elminate it when you experience it. The best action is of course to practice meditation or follow a stress management program, which will put you in a better position to handle, reduce or elimnate stress.

Tips for stress management:

# When you feel that stress is building up within you, if possible, stop what you are doing and take a short walk.

# When stressed drink some water or juice.

# Take a few slow deep breaths.

# You may say that you cannot eat when in stress, yet, try eat something tasty or something you like, because food can calm you down a bit.

# Listen to your favorite music.

# Do something that you like doing.

# Watch a funny movie.

# Repeat affirmations to calm you down, such as:
- My mind is getting calm.
- I am relaxed and happy.
- I can meet any situation with calmness and inner strength.
- Everything is going to turn out great.
- I feel how my body, feelings and mind are getting calmer.

# Think, and persuade yourself about the futility of stress, and how much it is better to live without it.

# Exercise your inner freedom, and do not to let other people thoughts, opinions, words and actions affect you.

# Engage in some sort of sport or physical activity.

You can manage stress if you put your mind to it. It is only the first steps that seem difficult.