Handling Stress for Women

The stress of debt can weigh heavily on women. Here are some tips, from The US Department of Health & Human Sciences, that women can follow to help relieve their stress.

• Relax – Choose your own method. It could include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, massage therapy, listening to music, or reading a book. 
• Make time for yourself – You should do this despite all the other demands of life. Try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day doing something you want to do.
• Sleep – Try to get seven to nine hours every night. Not getting your sleep could make the stress worse. You also become more susceptible to sickness.
• Eat right – fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
• Exercise – Exercise releases happy body chemicals called endorphins that improve your mood.
• Talk to friends – Find a friend who is a good listener and talk through your stress. 
• Professional help, if necessary – Talk to a therapist, who can help you work through stress and figure out how to deal with problems. 
• Don’t deal with stress in unhealthy ways – This includes drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking, or overeating.

If you do these things, you can hopefully cut down on the stress, feel better and have less frazzled judgment as you make serious decisions about your life.