That’s right – stress is going nowhere and you cannot hide from it; so best you learn how to manage your stress.
You will always have to cope with financial obligations, techno-creep, rush-hour traffic and, worst of all, toxic people.
The best you can do is to learn how to better manage your stress levels. If you can convince yourself that you are in control of your life, you will have laid the foundation for healthy stress management. You need to control your thoughts, emotions, environment, and workload. What you ideally want is a healthy balance between work and play, making time outside of work to spend with your loved ones, relax and have fun.
Rocking your stress like Jagger
A recent article suggests the four “A”s techniques for handling stressful situations, namely:
Change the situation by avoiding or altering the stressor. And change your reaction by accepting or adapting to the stressor.
For example, peak-hour traffic isn’t going to become less frenetic any time soon. You can’t change that, but you can accept the situation and work on ways to adapt to it. Listen to the radio or to audiobooks, or dictate thoughts, reminders, or your memoir into your smartphone. Or change the route you take to work and negotiate flexible hours with your boss.
Control your thoughts
Thought patterns have a profound effect on your emotional and physical well-being. Instead of lambasting yourself with negative thoughts, tell yourself how great you are. Actively think of your best qualities and repeat them to yourself regularly.
Exercise and a healthy diet will go a long way towards keeping your stress levels in check. As little as 30 minutes of exercise is enough to reduce stress levels significantly. A body that is well-nourished and fit is in much better shape to cope with life stress events.
Take deep breaths
When you feel yourself getting stressed out, concentrate on your breathing. Take deep breaths from your abdomen, and exhale as slowly as you can.
Avoid toxic people
Avoid toxic people, or as Julia Cameron calls them in her book, The Artist’s Way, crazy makers. Life is too short to get stressed out by crazy makers.
“Some stress is inevitable for everyone. But the stress-related disease doesn’t have to be.”
10 quick fixes to manage your stress
1. Go for a brisk, 30-minute walk every day.
2. Do aerobic exercises for 30 minutes every day.3. Write down whatever thoughts pop into your head when you wake up in the morning.
3.Try to write as much as possible—up to three A4 pages. This free-form writing will bring perspective.
4. Schedule 30 minutes to worry each day and try not to worry outside that time.
5. Avoid venting to friends—studies have shown that it may make matters worse.
6. Ask for a hug or play with your pet – physical touch releases the “love hormone”, oxytocin.
7. Work in the garden.
8. Curl up with a good book.
9. Listen to music.
10. Watch a comedy.
By Linda Cilliers
– www.brainline.org/article/stress-management-how-reduce-prevent-and-cope-stress
– www.livescience.com/35957-lower-stress-tips.html
– https://juliacameronlive.com/the-artists-way/
– www.livescience.com/35957-lower-stress-tips.html
The Content on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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