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Manage Your Stress and Relax

Manage Your Stress and Relax

person relaxing on hammock at the beach

Purpose

New experiences, busy schedules, or just the ups and downs of life can be stressful. That’s normal. A little stress can help motivate you or remind you to slow down. But if you’re too stressed, it’s easy to feel irritated, frustrated, and anxious, and that’s no fun for anyone. Managing stress in a healthy way will help you feel more confident, peaceful, and able to handle life’s challenges.

Goal Description

Learn to manage stress in healthy ways.

Goal Ideas

  • If you tend to pack your day with one activity after another, plan time for relaxation into your day. For example, schedule time for something you enjoy, like walking, drawing, talking with a friend, listening to music, or reading.

  • No matter how out of control things feel, you can control your attitude. When you feel stressed, make a goal to stop and think of five good things about your current situation.

  • Use relaxation techniques. For example, once or twice a day try focusing on one group of muscles, like your feet. Tense them for a few seconds, then relax them. Then, go on to your leg muscles, shoulder muscles, and so on.

  • When it feels like your mind is going in a hundred directions, sit quietly for a few moments and imagine that your thoughts are like raindrops or snowflakes gently falling to the ground. Let them settle peacefully before you move on.

  • Each time you feel overwhelmed, think “All I have to do right now is .” Fill in the blank with one simple, easy next step. When you’re done, repeat!

  • Study Adjusting to Missionary Life to learn how to recognize and deal with different kinds of stress.

  • Create your own goal.

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