Which of the following sets of self-maintenance habits is most effective in reducing your level of stress?

• A. Ignoring personal hygiene, neglecting relaxation, and minimizing physical activity
• B. Procrastinating tasks, excessive screen time, and skipping meals
• C. Regular physical exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and getting adequate sleep
• D. Avoiding social interaction, consuming high amounts of caffeine, and staying up late

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of self-maintenance habits and their role in stress reduction. Self-maintenance habits are behaviors that individuals engage in to take care of their physical and mental health, which can influence stress levels.
2. Step 2: Identify habits that are known to reduce stress effectively. These typically include regular physical exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and getting adequate sleep, as these support overall well-being and help the body manage stress.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the other options by considering how they impact stress. For example, ignoring personal hygiene, procrastinating, excessive screen time, skipping meals, avoiding social interaction, consuming high caffeine, and staying up late generally increase stress rather than reduce it.
4. Step 4: Compare the sets of habits by their effects on physiological and psychological stress responses. Habits that promote physical health and mental relaxation are more effective in lowering stress levels.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the set including regular physical exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and getting adequate sleep is the most effective in reducing stress, based on evidence from psychological and health research.