Relaxation Techniques
for Stress Management

Wouldn't it be nice if you could manage your stress levels? These relaxation techniques for stress management will provide you with the tools you need to help reduce the amount of stress in your life.

Here's the first of my relaxation techniques for stress management:

This technique works with all aspects of your life, but you should focus on only one at a time. I've included a table after each step to clarify this technique.

1- Starting with your home life, list all incidents where stress affects you.

Time of Stress	Stress Trigger	Typical Response	Alternate Response
Winter Holidays
Family Vacation
Move

2- Try to mentally relive some of these moments and pin-point the causes of stress (or stress triggers) for each of these times of stress.

Time of Stress	Stress Trigger	Typical Response	Alternate Response
Winter Holidays	Trying to meet everyone's expectations Buying gifts, food, etc. Booking flights and accommodations Paying Bills
Family Vacation	Making time for everyone to do the activities they enjoy Losing luggage
Move	New Neighbourhood Forgetting to change some addresses Damaged belongings

3- In the next column, try to describe how you normally deal with these stress triggers.

Time of Stress	Stress Trigger	Typical Response	Alternate Response
Winter Holidays	Trying to meet everyone's expectations Buying gifts, food, etc. Booking flights and accommodations Paying Bills	Buy lots of presents Postpone shopping until Dec Book flights and accommodations late fall Pay minimum balance or more if I can afford it
Family Vacation	Making time for everyone to do the activities they enjoy Losing luggage	Bring more money Hope it doesn't happen
Move	New Neighbourhood Forgetting to change some addresses Damaged belongings	Hope for the best

4- Finally, you have to think about ways to make the stress triggers appear smaller or insignificant. Try to keep it realistic but keep in mind that your lifestyle may be the cause of stress, and as such, lifestyle adjustments may have to be made. Relaxation techniques for stress management do involve a little bit of effort from your part...

Time of Stress	Stress Trigger	Typical Response	Alternate Response
Winter Holidays	Trying to meet everyone's expectations Buying gifts, food, etc. Booking flights and accommodations Paying Bills	Buy lots of presents Postpone shopping until Dec Book flights and accommodations late fall Pay minimum balance or more if I can afford it	Start making list and shopping in July. Book rooms and flights in summer Put some money in a holiday savings plan every month
Family Vacation	Making time for everyone to do the activities they enjoy Losing luggage	Bring more money Hope it doesn't happen	Book extra activities that your family will like ahead of time Pack all essentials and enough clothes for a day in your carry-on luggage
Move	New Neighbourhood Forgetting to change some addresses Damaged belongings	Hope for the best	Get involved with new community Walk or cycle in your new neighbourhood Use the postal office to redirect your mail Use professional movers and pack extra carefully

5- Repeat for work related stress triggers.

6- When these stress triggers reappear in your life, avoid acting the "old way" and try your "alternate response".

Find out more on relaxation techniques for stress management and relaxation at home.

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