Last week I wrote about stress. I stated that everyone experiences stress in their life, but handle it differently. Most cope with stress in unhealthy ways, i.e. drinking too much, smoking, withdrawing, pills, or drugs, and so on. But how is the best way to manage stress? Here are some great ideas.
AVOID UNNECESSARY STRESS
Learn how to say “NO” Know your limits and stick to them personally and professionally
Avoid people who stress you out. Or if you can’t, limit the time spent with them
Take control of your environment.
Avoid “Hot Button Topics”
Scale down your “To Do” list
ALTER THE SITUATION
Express your feelings instead of keeping them bottled up. Communicate your concerns in a healthy manner
Be willing to compromise. Bend, oak tree, bend!
Be more assertive at times. Don’t take a backseat in life
Manage your time. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When you are always running late it’s hard to stay calm and focused
ADAPT,ADAPT.ADAPT
Refocus your situation. Instead of fuming over a traffic jam, use the time in your car in a more positive manner. Pause and regroup, listen to your favorite music.
Always look at the big picture. Will this stressful situation really matter in a month, a year??
Adjust your standards. We all strive to be perfect, but perfectionism is a major source of stress. Stop setting yourself up to fail.
Focus on the positive. Glass half full…it works.
MAKE TIME FOR FUN AND RELAXATION
Nurture yourself
Recharge your batteries
Connect with other positive people
Have a sense of humor
ADOPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Get enough sleep
Eat cleanly
Exercise regularly… Of course I talked about stress just to get to this point… Don’t put off exercise because you’re stressed. But because you’re stressed, EXERCISE!