Laughter is the Best Medicine
You know how you feel after you laugh with your
friends, at a movie, or something your child does.
It makes you feel good. Laughter provides you a
time that you do not focus on your stress and your
body relaxes.
The MayoClinic.com documents that there are
short term and long term benefits to laughter
(2010). The three short-term benefits of laughter
as described by MayoClinic.com are stimulation of
organs, activation or eluviation of the stress
response, and soothing tension (2010).
Possible long-term benefits to laughter according
to the MayoClinic.com include improvement of
your immune system, pain relief, and increase personal satisfaction. So laughter can provide that
initial stress relief, but practiced over time can help
you feel better in the long run.
Finding humor in our life can be the step to
handling daily stress. So find ways to incorporate
laughter in your day. Try to find humorous things
as you go through your day. Ideas would be to
people watch, watch a comedian, rent a comedy,
and reminisce about something that was funny
that happened in your past. Have a funny picture
on your desk or phone that you can access when
you need a laugh.
SO LAUGH!!! IT DOES A BODY GOOD.
Methods to Help
Deal with Stress
According to an Irish Proverb,
“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best
cures in the doctor’s book.”
1-800-ASK-UGA1
www.gafamilies.org
Developed by Heidi L. Flowers
heidif@uga.edu
912-287-2456
605A Church St
Waycross, GA 31501
Dealing With Stress
We all may have differences, but one common
factor in our lives is stress. What “stresses” you
out? Your “stressor” could be your spouse,
children, co-workers, supervisor, traffic, or a
combination of things. Since we all have stress,
we have to know how to identify when stress
reaches the point of sending signals to us. These
warning signs can be physical, mental, and/or
behavioral, and if we fail to deal with our stress it
will lead to serious complications.
SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH STRESS?
Daily Steps to Reduce Stress
Adapt some stress-management skills that you
use daily to reduce the amount of stress in your
life. Simple steps like reducing overscheduling,
getting a good night’s sleep, as well as eating a
proper and healthy diet are examples of stress
management skills. Also having an optimistic
attitude is one of the best ways to manage daily
stress. If you approach something in a positive
manner, most of the time you will have a positive
response to the situation. Another valuable
stress management skill is to solve the little
problems when they occur instead of letting them
build on each other. Treat stress like that leaky
faucet, if you do not handle it when it is a small
leak it may bust and cause a flood. By taking
these steps you will see a
reduction in your daily
stress and how you handle
change in situations.
Learn to say “NO” whenever
possible.
Remember What You Like….
Remember when you did not have all the
responsibilities or demands on your time? What
was it that you did for fun or to relax? Was it
curling up on the couch with a good book or a
movie? Are you into running, riding bikes, or
swimming? So you enjoy a long bubble bath?
Whatever it is that you enjoy
doing, that is an activity that
can reduce your stress. Take
some “me” time and take care
of yourself. Take that road
trip, play the piano, crochet
that scarf...the choice is
YOURS.
Squeeze Away Your Stress….
Grab a squeeze ball. When you squeeze, the
muscles not only contract in your hand, but up
your arm as well. Hold the squeeze for a second
or two and then release. As your muscles relax,
the tension will leave your arms and hands,
thereby relieving stress. It’s a great way to take
out your frustration.
There are numerous
benefits besides just relieving stress. You’ll
improve hand strength and dexterity. Stress balls
also stimulate blood circulation and can help to
reduce arthritic pain and stiffness. Just by
squeezing a simple ball!
Take Me Away….
You can take a mental vacation when you feel
your stress level rising. To go on a mental vacation you have to picture the location in your
imagination. Take a few minutes, close your
eyes, and picture your self where you would like
to go. Your mental vacation can take you
somewhere you have been or somewhere you
want to go, it’s a free trip.
Talk it out….
Sometimes the stress is too much for us to
handle on our own, and we have to have
someone to talk to about our problems. Talking
can help you verbalize your situation and help
you figure out what your stressors are. So find a
friend, counselor, preacher… There is no
shame in talking with someone, and you may
find that you are not alone when it comes to
your
stressors. And that is comforting to
know.
1-800-ASK-UGA1
www.gafamilies.org