In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach the point of feeling stressed out beyond our ability to cope. Yet it's our ability to cope that makes all the difference. The point is that stress is not going to go away; it's here to stay.
If you find yourself reading a book or attending a seminar that says you can eliminate all stress, either throw the book down or leave the room.
You cannot eliminate stress. But you can learn to handle stress successfully.
Let's look at six different strategies for successfully handling the stress in our lives. Each can be used separately or in conjunction with the others.
1. Talk it out
Whatever we don't talk out, we act out. That's a basic rule of mental health. If we don't discuss the issue, it's sure to surface in some other way.
2. Take mini-vacations
It's a mistake to think that we can push hard all year (or maybe longer) and then expect that all our stress can be healed in a one or two week vacation. It just doesn't happen.
Our bodies, minds and spirits need more frequent breaks. This is especially true if you are one of those people who schedules a vacation as they would a typical work day, so as to get the most out of it.
3. Distinguish between stress and pressure
Stress comes from the outside; pressure, on the other hand, is an inside job. Pressure is what we tell ourselves about the stress.
Here's a saying I came across recently:
"All the water in the ocean can't sink a ship unless it gets inside."
Sometimes, telling ourselves something as simple as "I can handle it" is all we need to keep the stress outside of us.
4. Create your own relaxation triggers
This exercise involves three simple steps that allow you to relax anywhere, any time.
Step 1: Picture yourself in a relaxing place. Create as much detail as you can in the picture, making it bright and colorful. Immerse yourself in the scene: See it, hear it, feel it.
Step 2: While you are picturing yourself in this place, create an immediate trigger that will instantly remind you of the relaxed feeling. It could be a snap of the fingers, a word or phrase, or a mental picture. It should quickly and strongly remind you of your relaxing place.
Step 3: When you find yourself in a stressful situation, simply fire off your relaxation trigger and feel the almost-instant relief.
5. Stop worrying
That sounds too simple, but just consider for a moment: What good, what change has come about from worrying?
6. Take action
Do something about what is causing you to worry. It's difficult to worry when you are busy doing something about it.
This list began with a suggestion that you talk about your stress. That's a good idea, most of the time. It can become a bad thing, though, if that's all you do.
To make stress work for you, it's essential that you take concrete action.
So there are six strategies for making stress work for you. Here's one more suggestion: Practice one of these each day for the next six days.
At the end of those six days, you'll have strong tools for dealing with stress.
Visit secretsofgreatrelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.
family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..Deceiving? You bet they are. How? Without your even knowing... Read More
I was a psychotherapist for... Read More
The Problem You don't need me to tell you how... Read More
How much attention is paid to one of the biggest... Read More
Governements and businesses have regularly highlighted the costs of stress... Read More
If you've recently experienced loss or are going through a... Read More
One question that is not asked enough by people under... Read More
Everywhere I go, I hear the same unpleasant sentence repeated... Read More
The best way to reduce your stress is to really... Read More
Q: What is Stress?A: Very basically it is the physical,... Read More
We've all experienced it-computerized technology that doesn't function properly. PCs... Read More
Looking for all of the answers in how to manage... Read More
A friend has this quotation on his office wall: "I... Read More
What would you say if I told you I know... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
Syndicated columnist Dale Dauten recently wrote, "One of life's great... Read More
Breathing is the vital force of life. It is considered... Read More
Traffic jams. Toddler tantrums. Deadlines at work. Money troubles. Too... Read More
"Smash!" It was a sunny autumn Saturday. My cousins and... Read More
Every woman needs her own personal space for relaxation, not... Read More
We all have it; we live with it daily: stress.... Read More
Have you ever said the words, "This job/my life is... Read More
As tools for change are discussed, one tool - that... Read More
Looking for mindfulness? Who ya gonna call?Try dialing M.It's easy... Read More
Q: "My career, though very very stressful, is one that... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Do you often overreact to situations? Are you a constant... Read More
Fear, and its accompanying seriousness, causes our suffering. Fear restricts... Read More
"We do not stop playing because we grow old. We... Read More
In order to free ourselves from the pain of anger... Read More
Stress is the nastiest 4 letter word you ever met.... Read More
Are you a "worry wart?" Is that term familiar to... Read More
1. The Law of GiftsRichard Bach, author of "Illusions" says... Read More
Panic.Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry.... Read More
After a stressful day as a computer programmer, Jim pulled... Read More
Q. I wonder if you could help me with a... Read More
Seventy-five percent of all our problems ? both emotional and... Read More
David Bowie once sang, "Ch-ch-changes, tryin' to face the strain."And... Read More
Feeling stressed? Who isn't!! In today's society, feeling "stressed out,"... Read More
We all know what it feels like to have our... Read More
Are you feeling stressed out? Too many things to do,... Read More
Here's an amazing quote from Time magazine:"At birth a baby's... Read More
What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More
A while back, I was in a minor fender-bender accident,... Read More
In a recent CMA survey of 2251 physicians, over 45%... Read More
Work stress has become a major problem today. The nature... Read More
Q. I've suffered a few setbacks and disappointments in the... Read More
Workplace stress is on the rise and it's costing corporate... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
1. The Law of EveryoneIt is not neccessarily wrong to... Read More
We are currently living in a capitalist society where money... Read More
Stress Management |