Managing Stress Toolkit

Stress is a fact of life. It's your mind's and body's response to demanding situations or events. Not all stress is bad. It can energize you and help you perform at your best. But too much stress, or stress that lasts too long, can take a toll.

At Cigna Healthcare^SM, through good times and crunch times, we've got your back. This toolkit can help you tame your stress and build skills to better manage future stress.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness means living in the moment. Practicing mindfulness can help lower your stress levels. Here are some resources and simple, effective exercises to manage stress through mindfulness:

• Mindfulness audio files : Click to access or download free audio on mindfulness.¹
• Benefits of mindfulness : Read this article and learn how living in the moment can be good for your health and help manage stress.

Improve Your Juggling Act

Do you feel like you're the star of your own circus? Find help with balancing the demands of work and life.

• If you have a plan through your employer, check with your Human Resources department, benefits center, or employee assistance program. Find out if your employer-sponsored benefits include resources to help address everyday work/life demands. You might have access to childcare, eldercare, convenience services, and more.
• Contact your local United Way^® for information on community resources. They may offer a community database for finding services and programs.

Strengthen Your Coping Skills

Find more help through coaching and other resources.

• If you have a plan through your employer, check with your Human Resources department, benefits center, or employee assistance program. Ask if your employer-sponsored benefit program offers coaching. You may have access to telephone-based and or online coaching programs for managing stress.
• Access Cigna Healthy Rewards^® Program. If you're a Cigna Healthcare customer, you can find services that promote well-being, offered through Cigna Healthy Rewards^®.

Assess Your Stress

Use these interactive tools, available through Healthwise^®, to measure your stress level and find out how well you cope:

• What is your stress level?
• How well do you bounce back?

Read these Healthwise articles and build your stress management skills:

• Stress Management: Topic Overview
• Stress Management: Managing Your Time

Listen to on-demand seminars:

• Not All Stress is Created Equal
• Everyday Mindfulness