| How do you lower stress? It depends on what | | | | Often, just acknowledging the stress helps to bring it |
| motivates you. Some people, in their heart of hearts, | | | | down. |
| decide that it is easier to take a pill to reduce high | | | | 5. Relax And Enjoy |
| blood pressure. Others prefer to make lifestyle | | | | Believe it or not, relaxation and enjoyment take |
| changes. Whatever your approach, you will feel less | | | | some effort or at least some calculation. A lot of |
| stress if you feel in control of your life. Get that | | | | people realize that if they sit in a chair all day, they |
| control by establishing goals, writing them down, and | | | | will make their health worse. But in the years of |
| working toward them, giving less attention to little | | | | work, they have forgotten how to enjoy |
| things that are not really important to you. Here are | | | | themselves. If you enjoy life and develop a sense of |
| some tips that you can consider to take to relieve | | | | playfulness and humor, you will be less prone to |
| stress. | | | | stress, anxiety disorders, and depression. Make a |
| 1. Say Good-bye To Beepers | | | | study of what really relaxes you and what you really |
| A lot of people feel as though they are always on | | | | enjoy such as museums or parks, or activities such |
| call. Thanks to pagers, cellular phones, and the like. | | | | as cards, golf, or quilting. Then deliberately build those |
| Take a break form technology, perhaps spending a | | | | things into your day. Remind yourself that it is okay |
| restful day with the phone unplugged. Get unbusy. | | | | to have fun, you deserve it. |
| Allow yourself time to do nothing. | | | | 6. Remember, Less Is More |
| 2. Change Your Inner Environment | | | | Many older people feel the stress of a fixed income. |
| Biofeedback or medication will relax you mentally and | | | | When you sit down and think about what makes you |
| lower stress. Try reducing the psychological stress | | | | happy and what makes you worry, you may find |
| that raises your blood pressure by repeating a sound, | | | | that you don’t need the second car, the cabin in |
| word, phrase, or muscle activity while you passively | | | | the mountains, or the new furniture. You may find |
| disregard other thoughts. | | | | that what makes you happy are family and friends, |
| 3. Get On With Life | | | | and fewer material things. Letting go of what is not |
| Especially when you retire, you may be tempted to | | | | important helps cut costs and stop stress. |
| live vicariously through your children and grandchildren. | | | | 7. Lend A Helping Hand |
| That always produces stress because it does not | | | | You may get your greatest satisfaction from helping |
| work. Instead, live your own life. Do volunteer work | | | | your children or grandchildren. But if you are |
| to establish a larger circle of friends and | | | | considering providing financial assistance, think |
| responsibilities. Take courses at your local college. | | | | carefully – Will you find that satisfying or just |
| 4. Pay Attention To Changes | | | | stressful? But you will know that these people who |
| Stress goes up with major changes, such as the first | | | | have never had such joy as when they gave their |
| few months after retirement. Your routine changes | | | | grandchild a new car. In that case, money can be a |
| immediately, but your mind and body are still tuned | | | | stress reducer. |
| to the habits that may have taken 65 years to form. | | | | |