7 Simple Ways to Manage Stress
There are a number of ways to manage stress, and ultimately eliminate it from your life.
Below are some hints to help you get started.
1. Acknowledge stress is good
That burst of energy will enhance your performance at the right moment. Use stress wisely to push yourself that little bit harder when it counts most.
2. Avoid people who cause stress
Shield yourself by recognizing stress in others and limiting your contact with them.
3. Learn from the best
Learn from the best stress managers and copy what they do. When people around are losing their heads, who stays calm? What do they do differently? What is their outlook?
4. Practice breathing
You can cause your body to relax by using deep breathing. Breathe in slowly, hold it until the count of five, the breathe out. Repeat this breathing until your heart rate slows and things start to feel more normal.
5. Give stress thoughts the red light
It is possible to cause yourself stress by worrying about things that may or may not happen. Often, the very thing we worry about is the one thing that doesn’t happen. Stop yourself when you start thinking negatively.
6. Know your trigger points and hot spots
Make a list of stress trigger points or hot spots. Be specific. Knowing what causes you stress is powerful information, as you can take action to make it less stressful. Do you need to learn some new skills? Do you need extra resources? Do you need to switch to decaf?
7. Burn the candle at one end
Lack of sleep, poor diet and no exercise wreaks havoc on our body and mind. Take care of you and stress won’t be as quick to enter your life and harm you. A healthy person can deal with the stress in life much easier than one who isn’t healthy.