MORE STRESS MANAGEMENT

6. Make stress your friend
Acknowledge that stress is good and make stress your
friend! Based on the body’s natural “fight or flight”
response that burst of energy will enhance your
performance at the right moment. I’ve yet to see a top
sportsman totally relaxed before a big competition. Use
stress wisely to push yourself that little bit harder when
it counts most.
7. Stress is contagious
What we mean by this is that negative people can be a
huge stressor. Negativity breeds stress and some
people know how to do nothing but complain. Now you
can look at this in one of two ways. First, they see you
as a positive, upbeat person and hope that you can
bring them back “up”. If that’s not it, then they’re just
a negative person and can’t feel better about
themselves unless those around them are negative as
well.
Don’t get caught up in their downing behavior.
Recognize that these kinds of people have their own
stress and then limit your contact with them. You can
try to play stress doctor and teach them how to better
manage their stress, but be aware that this may
contribute more to your own stress, so tread lightly.
8. Copy good stress managers
When people around are losing their head, which keeps
calm? What are they doing differently? What is their
attitude? What language do they use? Are they trained
and experienced?
Figure it out from afar or sit them down for a chat.
Learn from the best stress managers and copy what
they do.
9. Use heavy breathing.
You can trick your body into relaxing by using heavy
breathing. Breathe in slowly for a count of 7 then
breathe out for a count of 11. Repeat the 7-11
breathing until your heart rate slows down, your
sweaty palms dry off and things start to feel more
normal.
10. Stop stress thought trains
It is possible to tangle yourself up in a stress knot
all by yourself. “If this happens, then that might
happen and then we’re all up the creek!” Most of these
things never happen, so why waste all that energy
worrying needlessly?
Give stress thought-trains the red light and stop
them in their tracks. Okay so it might go wrong – how
likely is that and what can you do to prevent it?
11. Know your stress hot spots and trigger points
Presentations, interviews, meetings, giving
difficult feedback, tight deadlines……. My heart rate is
cranking up just writing these down!
Make your own list of stress trigger points or hot
spots. Be specific. Is it only presentations to a certain
audience that get you worked up? Does one project
cause more stress than another? Did you drink too
much coffee?
Knowing what causes your 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 decaffeinated
coffee?
12. Eat, drink, sleep and be merry!
Lack of sleep, poor diet and no exercise wreaks
havoc on our body and mind. Kind of obvious, but
worth mentioning as it’s often ignored as a stress
management technique. Listen to your mother and
don’t burn the candle at both ends!
Avoid using artificial means to dealing with your
stress. That means don’t automatically pour a glass of
wine when you think you’re getting stressed out and
don’t light up a cigarette. In actuality, alcohol,
nicotine, caffeine, and drugs can make the problem
worse. A better idea is to practice the relaxation
techniques we’ve given you. Then, once you’re
relaxed, you can have that glass of wine if you want.
13. Go outside and enjoy Mother Nature. A little
sunshine and activity can have amazing ramifications
on your stress level and will enhance your entire
outlook towards life. Your improved attitude will have a
positive effect on everyone in your family and/ or circle
of friends; things which seem overwhelming will soon
become trivial matters, causing you to wonder what the
predicament was.
Not only will you be less stressed, you will be
healthier, happier, and more energetic; ready to face
whatever obstacles come your way.
14. Give yourself permission to be a 'kid' again. What
did you enjoy when you were a child? Draw; paint; be
creative. Play with Play- dough, dance, or read. Play
music, allow yourself freedom to express yourself
without worry that you're not keeping with the image of
who you are 'supposed' to be. Just relax and enjoy
yourself. We all have a little child in us and it's a good
idea to allow expression of the child within from time to
time.
If I might say so, this suggestion is excellent and
very therapeutic. I speak from experience. I can tell
you that there is nothing more satisfying than buying a
brand new box of 64 Crayons – the one with the
sharpener in the box – and coloring away in a coloring
book. My grandson loves it when I use this stress
buster!
15. Don't set unrealistic for goals for yourself. Many of
us set ourselves up for defeat simply by setting
unrealistic goals for ourselves. For example, if you are
dieting, realize you cannot lose 40 pounds in one or
two months.
Or maybe you are trying to reach a goal of
obtaining a particular job position; whatever your goal
is allow sufficient time to reach your goals and realize
occasional setbacks may occur.
If you reach your goal without any delays, you will
be even happier with yourself for arriving quicker than
you planned, but don't expect it. In fact don't expect
anything; expectations and reality are often two
entirely different things.
16. Learn it is OK to say 'no' occasionally. Often,
many of us feel we have to say 'yes' to everyone, every
time we are asked for help and feel that we must
respond in a positive fashion. But, remember, you
cannot be all things to all people. You must first meet
your own needs before you can truly give others what
they need while at the same time keeping yourself
happy.
17. You do not have to do everything your family,
friends, and others ask. Of course you can help others,
but first make sure you have done what is necessary to
take care of yourself.
18. Make time for yourself, your number one priority;
once your own needs are met you will find you have
more time for others. And you may find more pleasure
in helping others when you don't feel that you must
always put others needs before your own.
We’re not done yet! There are so many great ways to
combat stress and anxiety. You deserve to get all the
information you can. After all, that’s really why you’re
reading this book, isn’t it? Here’s some more stress busters.