How to manage stress .

Lord Gautama Budha quote to manage stress 1“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” 2. “You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.” When you’re angry, your body reacts much the same way it does when you’re experiencing any other stress reaction. Your anger triggers your body to take a defensive stance, readying you for any danger that may come your way.When your anger is intense and frequent, the physiological effects can be harmful. Your health is at risk. And any or all of those nasty stress-related illnesses and disorders can become linked to excessive anger 3. “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” The first clause is different: “Our life is shaped by our mind” is now “We are shaped by our thoughts.” And “Joy follows a pure thought” is now ” When the mind is pure, joy follows.” “We become what we think” and “What you think, you become” do not reflect the content of the opening verses of the Dhammapada.What the text actually says is “Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought.”The original isn’t about “thoughts” or “thinking” as a causal factor, but about “mind,” which includes not just thinking but also our feelings and volitions. The original doesn’t say that we become what we think about, but that the mind’s habitual cognitive and volitional patterns shape the kind of mental states we experience.If we continually respond to life with thoughts and emotions that are aversive or grasping, we’ll experience greater suffering. If we respond with mindfulness, patience, and compassion, we’ll experience greater joy.Ideas such as “We become what we think” and “What you think, you become,” tie into a western preoccupation with the intellect. Descartes, for example, says “I think, therefore I am,” not “I feel, therefore I am,” or “I experience, therefore I am.” Self-help manuals encourage us to “Think and grow rich,” or to engage in “positive thinking.” Some studies, however, have shown that positive thinking can backfire, resulting in depression. Affirmations such as “I’m successful and people like me,” if not actually true, cause cognitive dissonance and merely remind us of our short-comings. According to study on stress management Here is some technique to helpful to reduce stress Drinking good amount of water reduce stress: Studies have shown that dehydration leads to higher cortisol levels—the stress hormone—making it harder to deal with everyday issues. By staying hydrated you will be better equipped to deal everyday problems. Healthy Diet plan can reduce stress :One reason busy, stressed people tend to gain weight is that they more often eat fast food, or go out to eat. This is understandable; after a busy day running around, you may not have time to come home and cook something from scratch. But healthy eating at home can help you stave off extra pounds when stressed, as meals you make are usually much better for you. (They’re healthier than fast food, and usually the portions are smaller and lower in fat than what you find in a restaurant.) Cooking at home can save you money, too, which may indirectly decrease your stress level by putting you under less financial strain. Learn how to say "no.": When you say no to a new commitment, you're honoring your existing obligations and ensuring that you'll be able to devote high-quality time to them.Saying no can allow you to try new things. Just because you've always helped plan the company softball tournament doesn't mean you have to do it forever. Saying no gives you time to pursue other interests.Always saying yes isn't healthy. When you're over committed and under too much stress, you're more likely to feel run-down and possibly get sick.

Avoid people who stress you out. If someone consistently causes stress in your life, limit the amount of time you spend with that person, or end the relationship.

Take control of your environment. If the evening news makes you anxious, turn off the TV. If traffic makes you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore do your grocery shopping online. Exercise regularly. Targeted exercise goes a long way toward freeing your body of stress hormones and increasing your endorphin levels - responsible for feelings of happiness. Carve out time during your busy day to exercise to both keep your body healthy and as a natural outlet for your stress. Get enough sleep. Give your body the sleep it wants, and your stress levels will take a nosedive. Sleep is a mechanism by which your body recuperates and restores its energy reserves. If you're not getting enough sleep, your body will use stress to keep you active and alert in the absence of stored energy.

Pare down your to-do list. Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely. Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, be more assertive and communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you've got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk. If you don't voice your feelings, resentment will build and the stress will increase. Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you'll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground. Create a balanced schedule. All work and no play is a recipe for burnout. Try to find a balance between work and family life, social activities and solitary pursuits, daily responsibilities and downtime. Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time. Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere. Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.” Practice gratitude. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective. Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change. Look for the upside. When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes. Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on. Share your feelings. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist.