We all have this favorite expression when it comes to being
stressed out, and I wouldn't bother naming all of them since it may also vary
in different languages. But when it comes down to it, I think that it is how we
work or even relax, for that matter that triggers stress. Ever been stressed
even when you're well relaxed and bored? I know I have.
Since Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. is unavoidable
in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful
incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the
things that can be done by just remembering it, since life is basically a
routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a
few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say-- every minute counts.
Managing time
Time management skills can allow you more time with your
family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity.
This will help reduce your stress.
To improve your time management:
· Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and
scheduling time for yourself.
· Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work,
family, and leisure time.
· Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and
urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and
meaningful to you.
· Manage your commitments by not over- or under committing.
Don't commit to what is not important to you.
· Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking
large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines.
· Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you
believe and what your life is like.
Build healthy coping strategies
It is important that you identify your coping strategies.
One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how
you cope in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change
unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the
positive and what you can change or control in your life.
Lifestyle
Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress
level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways
your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:
· Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations.
· Have a sense of purpose in life.
· Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the
stresses of the day while you are sleeping.
· Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against
stress.
· Get moderate exercise throughout the week.
· Limit your consumption of alcohol.
· Don't smoke.
Social support
Social support is a major factor in how we experience
stress. Social support is the positive support you receive from family,
friends, and the community. It is the knowledge that you are cared for, loved,
esteemed, and valued. More and more research indicates a strong relationship
between social support and better mental and physical health.
When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience
fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of
worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body's stress, just
as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see
things can help reduce stress.
· Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help
eliminate stress.
· Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid
exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an
event incorrectly.
· Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a
stressful event and find ways to deal with it.
· Changing your communication style helps you communicate in
a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile,
or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use
the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style.
Even writers like me can get stressed even though we're just
using our hands to do the talking, but having to sit for 7 or 8 hours is
already stressful enough and have our own way to relieve stress. Whether you're
the mail guy, the CEO, or probably the average working parent, stress is one
unwanted visitor you would love to boot out of your homes, especially your
life.
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