How Do You Handle Stress?

How Do You Handle Stress?

How Do You Handle Stress?
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 6 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	5.04

Vocabulary

challenging words:

resilient, stress-related, stressors, Tension-releasing, nutritious, commit, negative, Long-term, leeway, reading, experience, basis, throughout, better, prioritize, response

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How Do You Handle Stress?
By Jennifer Kenny

¹     People experience stress throughout their lives. It may be taking a test, peer pressure, or raising children. You already know that you react physically and emotionally to stress. Long-term stress can cause stress-related disease. So what can you do to prevent the negative effects of stress?

²     Taking care of yourself is one of the best ways. Exercise on a regular basis. It helps keep you fit and it relieves tension. Sleep at least nine hours a night. Eat nutritious foods so your immune system can function properly.

³     Learning to relax is another way to prevent the negative effects of stress. Relaxing helps you relieve the tension that is built up in response to stress. Deep breathing is an example of a relaxation technique. It allows you to bring in more oxygen to keep your brain alert and help your muscles work more effectively. Deep breathing slows down your heart rate and relaxes you. Tension-releasing exercises also help you to relax. Under stress, your muscles tense. So, go ahead, relax those muscles. Other ways to relax may be personal to you. Perhaps you enjoy listening to music or reading a book.

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