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Looking for some simple
ways to help alleviate your immediate stresses? Instead of hoping that the stress will disappear, remember that stress will
always be a part of your life. Success and happiness will depend on how well you can accept, cope with, or manage the stress.
This requires you to take responsibility for your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors. When you look at your stress this
way, you may find that you need not be so afraid.
We need a certain amount of stress to motivate us. Stressful events
can be viewed as obstacles or as opportunities to learn how to manage them better. Identifying stressful situations is actually
good news; because that means you have taken the first step in managing what gripes you. When people find what causes their
stress and begin to understand why it is stressful - they can work to manage the stress more successfully.
Small changes
in posture, habits, thought and behavior often go a long way toward reducing feelings of stress and tension. Here are some
simple things you can do to help keep your stress level under control.
| 1. |
It's easy when there is
an event outside of your control, to let yourself be overwhelmed by feelings of stress and tension. The next time you feel
yourself becoming annoyed or angry whether trivial or not - make a conscious decision not to go with it. Stand outside of
yourself and take a few deep breaths then try to see the situation for what it is. Don't allow yourself to waste your precious
energy where it isn't deserved. Taking the time to learn some effective anger management strategies will help you to find
out how and why you react the way you do to stress.
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| 2. |
Breathe slowly and deeply. Before reacting when you feel
the hackles rising on your neck, take three deep breaths and release them slowly. Learn some relaxation techniques in advance
such as meditation or guided imagery. It only takes a few minutes of these to give you some much-needed relief.
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| 3. |
If you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, practice speaking
more slowly than usual. You'll find that you think more clearly and react more reasonably to stressful situations. Stressed
people tend to speak fast and breathlessly; by slowing down your speech you'll also appear less anxious and more in control
of any situation.
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| 4. |
Get outdoors for a brief break. In fact, make it a priority
to have frequent short breaks in the fresh air. There is more about the healing power of fresh air than you can imagine. Don't
be put off by bad weather - wrap up and get near the sea or water if you can, or just the rain. Even five minutes on a balcony
or terrace can be rejuvenating. Even if your schedule is full - you are doing yourself a great disservice if don't give yourself
five minutes of 'me' time outside.
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| 5. |
If you have slipped into procrastination, you are on the way
to more stress! Time management is of the essence to cutting your stress load in half. Delegate your responsibilities if you
have to - no one expects you to be able to do everything yourself. When you actively plan your day and tick things off when
achieved, you will realistically see what you can and can't do. Choose one simple thing you have been putting off and do it
immediately. Just taking care of one nagging responsibility can be energizing and can improve your attitude. The seven golden
rules of effective time management are:
- Create a daily list of tasks
- Give each task a priority A,B,C
- Ensure
that you work on the 'A' tasks first
- Handle each piece of paper on your desk only once
- Ensure that you make the
best use of your time
- Don't postpone anything - do it now!
- Schedule yourself five minutes of 'me' time every hour
for absolutely nothing
you will be amazed at how much more you will achieve
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| 6. |
You are probably sick of hearing it, but drinking plenty
of water and eating 5-6 small, nutritious meals are really the answer to even out blood sugar levels and keeping your head
on top of things. A nice incidental side effect of this is not feeling hungry and keeping unwanted pounds from creeping on
the hips. Even before you feel the effects of hunger and dehydration, they can provoke irritability and blow feelings of anxiety
and stress way out of proportion.
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| 7. |
Check out your posture right now. Are your head and shoulders
upright? Are you stooping or slumping? Bad posture can lead to muscle tension, pain, and increased stress. If you're trapped
behind a desk for most of the day, avoid repetitive strain injuries and sore muscles by asking your employer about ergonomically
designed furniture to reduce the risk.
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| 8. |
You owe it to yourself to plan something rewarding for
the end of your stressful day, even if only a relaxing bath or half an hour with a good book. Put aside work, housekeeping
or family concerns for a brief period before bedtime to allow you to fully relax. Don't spend the time planning tomorrow -
write those things down before you relax so that your mind won't keep coming back to tomorrow's lot. If you didn't happen
to do something on your list for today - it will keep until then. Remember that you need time to recharge and energize yourself
- you'll be much better prepared to face another stressful day.
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| 9. |
Exercise still remains one of the best ways to manage
stress. Aerobic exercise, one that makes the heart and lungs work harder, actually forces the body use up excess stress-induced
hormones. Regular exercise helps the body to react less dramatically to stress. Some research suggests that exercise will
also lift your spirits and decrease depression. Don't rush at it - just start incorporating more activity in your day and
work your way from there. Exercise is most helpful if it is practiced consistently over a long period of time. It makes sense
to choose an exercise that is enjoyable; the more enjoyable it is, the more likely an exercise program will succeed without
creating more stress for you. |
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