Who's in Control?

Stress sometimes seems like it's a prevalent part of our lives; that our lives are crazy and out of control, and that there's very little we can do about that. In reality, we are very much in control of the decisions we make. "The simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management" (helpguide.org). We make decisions almost constantly that effect our level of stress. When we realize how we may be causing ourselves to feel additional stress, we are in a position to change it.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk entitled "Good, Better, Best" that can help us understand how to prioritize our lives. You can read that here if you want help deciding what in your life is good, what is better, and what is best. You are in control of your life and you can make decisions to help you reduce your stress. What better time to start than today? Start by thinking about what is important in your life, then prioritize what is most important to you and what is essential for you to achieve your goals. You will notice as the less important tasks drop out that your stress level will decrease too.

Stress and Headaches

Constant psychological stress can lead to muscle tension, pain, and headaches. This article from the Mayo Clinic offers several helpful ideas to help decrease headaches over time. Some of the suggestions may feel difficult to implement (e.g. relaxing for a few minutes each day, taking a break) but as you try them, you will notice a difference in your overall health and stress levels. Try it out and see what works for you!