Are You Stressed out and Overloaded?

If you are feeling a little stressed and feel like you don't have time for yourself, you are not alone! Our society today is at an all-time high in levels of stress, anxiety, and overload.

Take a moment and take the HubPages quiz in the side bar. This quick, four-question, unofficial quiz might help you determine if you are headed for stress and burnout or if you are already there. So stop reading right now and take the quiz!

Did you take it? How was your score? If you scored 85-100%, good job! You have managed to keep your life in control. Keep up the good work! If you score was 75% or below, however, you might want to take a close look at your life and priorities. Does your life reflect those priorities?

If you feel like your life is overloaded and spinning out of control, you can read more about Maintaining Balance at this link for some helpful tips suggestions.

How Chronic Illness can Increase Stress and Anxiety

Living with a chronic illness is tough for anyone, an adult or child, as you juggle medications, doctor appointments, and your regular routine in the home is no longer regular. On top of all that, you are also dealing with stress, anxiety and body image changes.  When you have a chronic illness it's unusual for anyone to help you deal with the anxiety, stress or possible body image changes that are occurring as result. 
                                                                                                                                    

When an adolescent becomes ill things are even more complicated. Adolescence alone is a stressful developmental process, even for physically healthy teens, so chronic illness occurring during adolescence further complicates their development. 

If you have a chronic illness and can relate to this type of stress, click here for more information and suggestions to help you overcome the anxiety: Stress, Anxiety, Body Image Changes with Chronic Illnesses

Don't delay. You're not alone.

Top 5 Tips to Reduce Stress

Are you stressed and overloaded? Could you use some more time in your day? Do you want more peace in your life? In today’s society stress is a common problem. If you're feeling like this, you are not alone.

Our lives are so busy and so jam-packed with work, activities, appointments, meetings, schedules, and responsibilities, we often don’t have time for ourselves. If you are feeling overloaded and stressed, if your schedule is out of control and your calendar is overbooked, try these 5 simple tips to reduce the stress in your life:

1. Learn to say no. We don't have to agree to do everything that everyone expects from us. You have the right to determine your own activities and responsibilities. If someone else can do it... let them.
2. Simplify. Get rid of unnecessary activities and clutter. Too much stuff can be just as stressful as too much running around.
3. Watch your tongue. Think about your words before you let them out of your mouth. Read your e-mails and texts before you hit “send”. Believe me, this can help prevent a lot of stress!
4. Treasure silence and solitude. Turn off the noise. Take a hike in the mountains without your i-pod. Fill your soul with the peaceful sounds of quiet. 
5. Make sure you take some time for yourself. We will be more capable of taking care of others when we remember to take care of ourselves as well. Be sure to schedule time away from the children, either by yourself or with your spouse.

To reduce the stress and regain control, why not put these steps into practice. For more information read, Balanced Living: Tips for Stress Reduction and learn how planning ahead, starting and ending your day right, and a few other stress reducing tips, could help you be on your way to a less stressed, more productive, more enjoyable life.