“Reduce stress” seems to have become a standard prescription from health care practitioners. While science is still discovering the effects of modern “stress” on the body, studies are consistently implicating long-term health risks. A Google search of “stress reduction” brings up over 12 million hits.
After reading through a few, I came across a Mayo Clinic article describing practical tools for stress reduction. While each topic could be explored in great depth, I enjoyed the conciseness of this article. I have included a teaser of the four key points below.
Need stress relief? Try the four A’s: Expand your stress management tool kit by mastering these four strategies for coping with stress: avoid, alter, accept and adapt.
Avoid: A lot of needless stress can simply be avoided. Plan ahead, rearrange your surroundings and reap the benefits of a lighter load. (Just remember: A certain amount of avoidance is healthy, but some problems cannot be overlooked. For those situations, try another technique.)
Alter: One of the most helpful things you can do during times of stress is to take inventory, then attempt to change your situation for the better.
Accept: Sometimes we have no choice but to accept things the way they are.
Adapt: The perception that you can’t cope is actually one of the greatest stressors. That’s why adapting — which often involves changing your standards or expectations — can be most helpful in dealing with stress.
Sources:
Need stress relief? Try the four A’s by Mayo Clinic Staff from the Mayo Clinic
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