‘Tis the Season… to be Stressed?
When you’re feeling stressed out, sometimes the best thing to do is get some help!
Stress is a natural reaction we have to things that we experience. It’s normal to feel stressed from time to time, but once in a while, stress becomes a problem, and can come from family, social or work situations, finances or illness. Stress can be short-term or long-term, or even become chronic. For some of us, the holiday season can add to our stress – gifts to buy and wrap, cookies to bake, decorations to set up, etc. Our to-do list is overflowing, and it can be overwhelming!
Dealing with stress doesn’t have to be negative. If you’re faced with a new, exciting challenge, it can be exhilarating and motivating – racing toward a deadline or winning a competition is fun! On the flip side, negative stress can pull you down, de-motivate you, or cause your heart to race or your palms to sweat. Negative stress can come from simple things like being stuck in traffic, to more extensive stressors like managing a family member’s long-term illness or financial problems. What triggers your stress and how do you respond?
Proper management of stress is the key to diminishing, preventing, and even eliminating it. Have you ever known someone who never seems to be stressed? Ever wondered how in the world they do it? Chances are they’ve learned to practice effective stress management to successfully cope with the stressful circumstances that we all deal with.
If you’re feeling stressed, here are some simple ways to help manage through it and minimize its impact.
Write it Down - To effectively manage stress, you have to know what’s causing it. Take an inventory of what’s stressing you out and what triggers the most stress for you. Put them in a list with their stress levels (a scale of 1-10 works well) and make a note of how they make you feel (how the stress manifests).
Take Control - Look at your list. Is there anything on your list for which your response can be “easily” resolved? For instance, if you get worked up being stuck in rush hour traffic, it may be time to use that opportunity to catch up on your favorite album or podcast. You can’t control the traffic, but you can make the experience more positive and control how you respond.
Unloading – and Learning to Say “No” – Sometimes, we get stressed because there are things at home or work that we just don’t want to do, or things that we can’t do. Are there things on your list that you can delegate or just let go? Have you taken on new tasks or responsibilities because you feel you have to? Learn to say “no” to extra things that will just end up stressing you out!
Learning how to practice effective stress management in your life can make you happier and healthier. Understanding what brings you stress and adjusting your response goes a long way in helping you enjoy your life and focus your energies on things that really matter to you.
Are you feeling stressed? Is stress management a goal that you have for yourself that you can’t quite seem to get started on? We can help. Schedule your coaching appointment to find out how.