Whether you’re sitting school exams, in the middle of university finals, struggling under the workload of your job, or going through difficulties with finances or relationships, the stress gets to the best of us! Knowing God is on our side goes a long way to help, and it’s vital we keep praying before anything else.

As Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” While looking to God to help you, keep in mind the following practical stress-busting tips and you can’t go wrong!

{mosgoogle left} Plan and manage your time
There’s nothing worse than having a million and one things to do and not knowing where to start. Jumbled thoughts lead to panicky episodes, when you suddenly feel overwhelmed by the tasks at hand, and terrified you’ll forget something. Help to clarify what needs to be done by making lists. Once you have a list of what needs to be done, prioritise the things on that list so that number one is the most important. Next, work out how much time you have for the given tasks. Draw up a realistic timetable, putting in the things of top priority first. Remember to schedule in plenty of time for breaks. Once you see what you need to do on paper, you can be reassured that things won’t go forgotten, and you don’t need to clog up your mind with anxiety about them.  

Physical Exercise                  
The effectiveness of physical exercise as a way of dealing with stress is multi-faceted. There are a dozen or so chemical explanations for why getting some exercise will directly reduce your stress levels. Just to take a couple of examples:

• Exercise triggers some of the exact feelings related to stress. By acting these out in exercise, we reduce these feelings in our everyday actions – so it is a healthy escape route for tension and anxiety.
• Repetitive movements can change your state of consciousness and regulate breathing, promoting  calmness and tranquillity
• Endorphins released as part of exercise boost positivity, and self-esteem, as exercise is something good for you, your mind will feel better for doing it. You will look better for it too, again boosting your self-confidence.