Proven stress reducers:

• Sleep: Getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night is crucial in maintaining your body’s overall health and wellness.
• Learn to say no: You don’t have to say yes to everything. If it doesn’t help you achieve your goals, it really is all right to say no.
• Exercise: This not only releases chemicals that help you to feel happy, but it helps to break down the chemicals that raise your stress levels. A regular exercise schedule can help regulate naturally-occurring hormones. Even a few minutes at a time can make a big difference. 
• Laughing: This has been shown to release chemicals and reduce stress hormones in your brain. Read a good comic or watch a funny movie or video clip.
• Journal: Keeping a gratitude journal or journaling about life has been shown to help boost optimism and can help to take burdens from your shoulders.
• Do something you enjoy: Take 5 minutes for “me time.” This allows for a few minutes to unwind. Try taking up a new hobby, playing music, or painting nails.
• Stay Connected with others:  Spend time with others.  Although it may seem daunting at first, getting out and socializing can help reduce risk factors for stress.  They can provide emotional and other support.  This includes friends, family, community or religious organizations.  
• Other: Do anything else that is relaxing for you personally.

Set Goals and Priorities  Decide what must getdone and what can wait, and learn to say no tonew tasks if they are putting you into overload.Note what you have accomplished at the end ofthe day, not what you have been unable to do.

Coping skills 

FROM:  Stress Management / Patient Education.  BYU Idaho. 2012.  NIH "Five Things You Should Know".   VA:  Manage Stress Workbook, 2014.