Today we have more stress in our lives than ever before ? good stress, bad stress, red stress, blue stress (my little ode to Dr. Seuss). No matter what kind of stress it is, a real crisis or an imagined one, stress is incredibly harmful to our body, mind and soul.
Here are my favourite self-care habits for dealing with stress:
1. Get in the habit of noticing.
Take an inventory of all the things that just don't feel right in your life or that you know are causing you stress. For example, when you approach certain people, places or situations do you feel more stress and tension? Once you have your list in place, look at what you can change yourself, and do it. You can also use this list to predict stressful situations before they occur.
2. Get in the habit of asking for help.
For what you can't change yourself, you need a team. Build a team of experts to handle your list. A coach, at the top of the list, will help with the big picture and will keep you honest about your efforts. Other team members might be a family doctor who listens to you, a financial planner, a massage therapist and an exercise partner.
3. Get in the habit of bouncing back.
Think of Plan A as your basic self-care plan while stress is under control. Now imagine something happens and you are under stress. Instead of abandoning all self-care because you can't do it all, have a Plan B ready beforehand.
4. Get in the habit of relaxing.
If you practice relaxation techniques (breathing, meditation, imagery, music) every day, then when stressful situations come up you'll have the tools at your fingertips.
5. Get in the habit of gratitude.
Our attitude comes from our emotions and our emotions come from our thoughts. Thinking about what we're grateful for and what we're good at can keep things positive. It's not about shying away from what's challenging you ? it's about approaching life from a place of strength and not as a victim.
6. Get in the habit of creating.
Experiment with a new recipe in the kitchen, write a poem, bang a drum, do a craft, take a dance class or do something else that feels creative to you.
7. Get in the habit of putting your stuff away.
Physical clutter can really impact on mental, emotional and physical health. Get rid of things that don't make you happy when you look at them. Organize your stuff. Find a place for everything and keep it there.
8. Get in the habit of breathing.
This is the simplest and quickest way to relax yourself in a stressful situation. The minute you focus on your breathing it automatically gets slower and deeper.
9. Get in the habit of daydreaming.
Take yourself away on an imaginary holiday. Just close your eyes and go! Picture somewhere you've been or somewhere you've dreamed of.
10. Get in the habit of giggling.
Laugh out loud every day.
Don't let your stress get the better of you! Which one of these strategies can you apply this week to manage your stress?
? Copyright 2005, Genuine Coaching Services. All rights reserved.
Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, is the author of "The Everyday Self-Care Workbook". To find out more about the book, or to receive her free monthly newsletter, "Genuine Self-Care", visit http://www.genuinecoaching.com/resources.html.
scheduled maid service Northbrook ..You can learn a lot by watching children playing. There... Read More
June is the month of the honey moon. Custom holds... Read More
Genuine enthusiasm...real feeling of accomplishment...sense of satisfaction and fun. Welcome... Read More
STRESS & TIME MANAGEMENT: Stress is either the source or... Read More
It was a self-exploration that made me understand myself. It... Read More
If you have recently lost health insurance coverage through your... Read More
Life is funny.Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous... Read More
When something happens in our lives, we automatically assess the... Read More
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting... Read More
Aromatherapy is very therapeutic when it comes to healing emotional... Read More
When Army leaders fail to control battlefield stress, they lose... Read More
Stress is normal. Stress is OK. Stress is the same... Read More
"Do you want to be a lump of coal or... Read More
Who hasn't experienced "worry" at one time or another? Almost... Read More
Question 1"How do I get more time to play?"Answer: Schedule... Read More
Do you ever feel stressed? Is stress a regular component... Read More
Comedian George Carlin once remarked, "Have your ever noticed? Anyone... Read More
After a stressful day as a computer programmer, Jim pulled... Read More
In our article about Exercise & Stress, we looked at... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
We are not designed for long term stress.It causes us... Read More
While free-lancing for business magazines, I was assigned to write... Read More
These days, when people have become so conscious about what... Read More
1. Acknowledge that requesting support, guidance and partnership is not... Read More
The brain uses feel-good transmitters called endorphins when managing daily... Read More
reliable maid service Highland Park ..Stress ReliefStress is a big business in Western society. We... Read More
More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More
Everywhere I go, I hear the same unpleasant sentence repeated... Read More
Elizabeth, 32, cried during anger management class as she told... Read More
Did you ever feel like your "get-up-and-go" got up and... Read More
One of the dumbest things I have ever done is... Read More
One question that is not asked enough by people under... Read More
1)Excessive worryNo, I'm not saying "don't worry, be happy."Well-used worry... Read More
The fast pace of life is taking toll on every... Read More
Make stress less of an issue for you in your... Read More
Rest.It's a good thing to do. As the story goes,... Read More
When I pay attention, I clearly see the arresting ways... Read More
Amazing thing, overwhelm!You don't usually see it coming. It just... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen... Read More
Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and... Read More
In a recent CMA survey of 2251 physicians, over 45%... Read More
In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More
In his book, The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness, author... Read More
The predominant role human conditioning plays in a stressful environment.... Read More
Stress is normal. Stress is OK. Stress is the same... Read More
So many of us live a stressful life. Unfortunately, when... Read More
What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple... Read More
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their exacting demands... Read More
Stress Management |