Learn Your Triggers
Do you notice your anxiety and stress are brought on by a specific situation? Whether it’s work-related, personal, family-related or some other area of your life, identify patterns in your feelings, and what triggers them. When you get those feelings of stress or anxiety, write it down in a journal and record how it makes you feel. Take note of any details you can use to pinpoint the cause.
Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, and Nicotine
(Source: https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/stress-tips.html)
Avoid, or at least reduce, your consumption of nicotine and any drinks containing caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and so will increase your level of stress rather than reduce it.
Alcohol is a depressant when taken in large quantities, but acts as a stimulant in smaller quantities. Therefore using alcohol as a way to alleviate stress is not ultimately helpful.
Swap caffeinated and alcoholic drinks for water, herbal teas, or diluted natural fruit juices and aim to keep yourself hydrated as this will enable your body to cope better with stress.
You should also aim to avoid or reduce your intake of refined sugars - they are contained in many manufactured foods (even in savoury foods such as salad dressings and bread) and can cause energy crashes which may lead you to feel tired and irritable. In general, try to eat a healthy, well-balanced and nutritious diet.
Try one (or more) of these stress-busting activities
Doing things you enjoy is a natural way to relieve stress and find your happy place. Even when you’re down, you may find pleasure in simple things like going for a walk, catching up with a friend, or reading a good book.
When stress makes you feel bad, do something that makes you feel good, even if only for 10 or 15 minutes. Some of these activities may work for you:
Make art -- draw, color, paint, or play a musical instrument.
Work on a scrapbook or photo album to focus on good memories.
Read a book, short story or magazine.
Meet a friend for coffee or a meal.
Play a favorite sport like golf, tennis, or basketball.
Do a hobby like sewing, knitting, or making jewelry.
Play with your kids or pets – outdoors if possible.
Listen to music or watch an inspiring performance.
Take a walk in nature.
Take a relaxing bath and feel the stress wash away.
Meditate or practice yoga.
Work in the garden or do a home improvement project.
Go for a run or bike ride to clear your head.
Stop multitasking
No wonder we’re all mega-stressed when we’re replying to text messages, whilst watching TV and speaking on the phone simultaneously! Not only is multitasking totally inefficient, but it’s also linked to the increased production of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) that can send your body into panic mode! So chill out and take things one step at a time.
Minimize interruptions
According to a University of California study, an interruption costs you an average of 23 minutes before you return to the original task. In fact, the researchers say, temporarily cutting yourself off from e-mail can significantly reduce stress and hone your focus. Your best bet is to walk way for a bit. "Work somewhere else," says Allen. "Sit in an empty conference room where you can disconnect, and people will have a harder time hunting you down. Changing your environment may be the best thing you can do."
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