Stress: 3 Tips to Manage Yours

Stress. Something we all know, have, and are familiar with. It's a natural response our body has to external stressors and pressures. It affects everybody from children to the elderly, and manifests in symptoms ranging from headaches to emotional reactions to even more serious conditions like heart disease and strokes. ​We're all told that it's imperative for our health and well-being to reduce the causes of stress in our lives.

Easier said than done, right?

Well, here at Physicians First Messages, we work hard to keep stress to a minimum for our teams and have seen terrific results from this practice. And since April is Stress Awareness Month, we'd like to share our Top 3 Tips for Reducing Stress. 

1. Breathe. That's right! That little thing we all do every day all day and night is an exceptional first step to managing a stress response. When something unexpected and stressful happens, take a moment, step back or sit down, or stand up and take a quick break, and just... breathe.

2. Set goals. Setting small goals for yourself, both personal and professional, is another helpful step in reducing stress. Start small and simple and make them attainable wherever you can without shorting your professional needs. For every goal you succeed in reaching, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and feel another weight lifted as you move to the next goal. More stress vanquished!

3. Laugh. Share amusing jokes and stories with those around you. Keep fun and favourite comics or pictures that make you smile in your workspace. You can even laugh at yourself when something doesn't go your way! Laughter is often called the best medicine for good reason: it lightens your mood, improves your immune system, and relieves pain naturally. It even helps you connect with people around you: a bonus tip for long-term stress relief. 

These 3 tips have been shared by our team as the most successful for managing stress, both on and off the job. We hope they help you, too!