3 proactive ways to deal with stress

For most of us, stress is unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean it needs to rule your life. Here are 3 ways to proactively mitigate and manage your stress so that you can lead a healthier life.

Keep on top of things rather than letting them get on top of you. With better time management, you can avoid the stress of running to catch up with your life.

• Fix things as soon as they start to malfunction; don't wait until repairs become so expensive that it's cheaper to replace the item.
• Don't let clutter accumulate. Return things to their place as soon as you have finished with them. Give anything you haven't used in a long time to charity.
• Tidy your work or hobby area before you finish for the day. It will be easier to find everything the next day and you'll feel much better coming back to a tidy setup.
• Replenish supplies at home and at the office before they run out. That way you won't have to shop for supplies at an inconvenient time.
• Whenever you take something out of a folder at the office, take a couple of minutes to put the other papers in order before returning it to the drawer. It's a painless way of reorganizing your filing system.
• Every time you walk around your garden, pull out a few weeds, dead-head some flowers and remove dead foliage. Small amounts of regular maintenance add up to a tidy-looking garden.

Qi kung (pronounced chee gung) is an ancient Chinese healing system that works with the same "meridians," or channels of energy flow, that are used in acupuncture. Try this terrific energy-boosting stretch.

• Sit cross-legged on the floor, making sure you are comfortable. Cross your arms and place one hand over each knee. Breathe in steadily for a count of ten.
• Breathe out, bending forward and dropping your head down, for a count of ten.
• Breathe in, return to an upright position and repeat, this time re-crossing your legs and arms so that the arm and leg that were at the bottom are now on top.

Make a positive impact on the world by getting involved with your community. Participating in the wider world, away from your immediate circle of family and friends, can take your mind off your own troubles and be extremely rewarding.

• Volunteer work: There's a huge range of humanitarian opportunities to choose from, ranging from community aid to environmental restoration projects. Pick a cause you're passionate about and try to match it with your skills, interests and schedule.
• Forest regeneration: Join a forest regeneration group to make a difference in your local area. Your local council should be able to put you in touch with one. As a bonus, if you're thinking about planting a native garden, the knowledge you'll gain about what grows well in your area will be invaluable.
• Saving wildlife: Help rehabilitate injured wildlife by becoming a carer in an animal rescue organization. Many animals and birds at risk from traffic, domestic pets and encroaching development have been saved in this way.
• Monitoring the environment: Become involved in a wildlife monitoring project. There are many environmental and conservation projects that need volunteers to help identify and record native plants and animals or endangered species.

By learning to better manage your time, recharge your batteries and look outwards, you will be able to more effectively handle stress and take charge of your life.