Stress can have a big serious impact on men’s health. Stress can be a factor in a wide range of health issues including heart disease, high blood pressure, migraines, back pain, diabetes, cancer, and even a weakened immune system. Stress can also be a trigger for anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, or depression. To care for your mental health and be better equipped to care for your family, try some of these tips to relieve stress.

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1. Get regular exercise. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage stress. Being active releases endorphins, which makes you better able to handle stress. It will also help you to work out any tension. 
2. Eat and sleep well. By caring for your physical health, you will be much better equipped to deal with stress. Better nutrition and a decent night’s sleep can help your body to better manage your stress levels. Before bed, stay away from alcohol and caffeine, or any other stimulants that might make it more difficult for you to sleep.  
3. Get treatment. If your stress is causing more mental health problems, you should get some professional help from a therapist or your doctor. They can recommend the best treatments to help, like talking therapies, medication, or alternative treatments like CBD from the Harvest blog.
4. Meditate. Try to spend about fifteen minutes every day focusing on your breathing. Classic meditation doesn’t suit everyone, so you could try something different, like some breathing exercises, Yoga, or prayer. Just find time to breathe deeply and clear your mind.  One more good way to clear your mind is to focus on something, for example, to play patience games. Playing Freecell Solitaire requires concentration and attention to detail. Focusing on the game can help you shift your thoughts away from stress or worries, promoting mindfulness and reducing anxiety.
5. Solve the root of your stress. Dealing with the problems that are making you feel stressed out can ease some of that stress. Burying your head only lets the stress get worse. If you’re stressed because of a heavy workload, you should talk to your boss. If you’re finding it stressful at home, talk to your family or housemates about how you can change things.  
6. Avoid stressful situations. Of course, nobody can avoid everything that makes them stressed, but whenever possible, stay away from situations that you know make you get wound up. For example, if you know that being stuck in traffic makes you furious, try to travel when you know traffic will be quieter. Leave home a little earlier so you have more time. 
7. Accept the things you cannot change. There will be things in life that you just can’t have control over. For example, there’s no point in being stressed out because your plans for a family walk have been rained off because nobody can control the weather. Instead, rearrange or pack an umbrella and get on with it. 
8. Don’t take on more than you can handle. Lots of us are guilty of causing more stress for ourselves by over-planning and not saying no when we’re being asked to do something that we don’t have time for. You need to be able to say no when you need to and you don’t have the capacity, no matter who is asking you. 

This is a contributed post and therefore may not reflect the views and opinions of this blog or its author.