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.
eco-friendly cleaning service Bannockburn ..We wonder how many of you might recognise this scenario?... Read More
There are many kinds of daily grinds. In the U.S.... Read More
But how can this happen to someone?Let's concentrate on how... Read More
In order to free ourselves from the pain of anger... Read More
Don't wait to have a life-threatening disease to learn what... Read More
In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More
So many of us live a stressful life. Unfortunately, when... Read More
Everyone experiences stress at some point in their life. In... Read More
Today we have more stress in our lives than ever... Read More
No need to go spend money at a spa! There... Read More
Stressed? Relax Right Now with 5 Super-Simple Stress-BustersStressed-out? Don't know... Read More
My son was watching a Richard Scarry video this morning... Read More
Of all the forms of stress in today's world, computer... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
An excellent stress reducer can be something as simple as... Read More
Let's face it. If you are stressed, agitated and flitting... Read More
Ask a hundred different people how to deal with stress... Read More
Meditation seems to have arrived in the mainstream of late,... Read More
Everyone needs successful stress management techniques. Easy to learn and... Read More
The Problem You don't need me to tell you how... Read More
When it is all said and done, do you feel... Read More
It's no secret that we women, by virtue of our... Read More
This summer, get away, without going away. Take a mini... Read More
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting... Read More
A while back, I was in a minor fender-bender accident,... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Stress relief and managementRecognizing stress symptoms can be a positive... Read More
Q. Help! I moved from the Dallas to Denver. I... Read More
To be a safe and predictable person for those around... Read More
I hear from many people that they see ever increasing... Read More
It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to... Read More
The future is nothing but a fantasy or a daydream,... Read More
With how busy we keep ourselves on a day to... Read More
We so often take the feelings of happiness and saddness... Read More
Burt Reynolds revealed his vulnerable side when he realized he... Read More
Do you feel that you just don't have the time... Read More
In order to free ourselves from the pain of anger... Read More
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen... Read More
1. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a... Read More
This is a tool to measure the amount of stress... Read More
It's summertime and chances are you can remember a summer... Read More
I once worked with a woman whose zest,joy and enthusiasm... Read More
When a great Zen Master returned to his country after... Read More
Panic.Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry.... Read More
When Army leaders fail to control battlefield stress, they lose... Read More
Stress is an interpretation of an event or circumstance which... Read More
The predominant role human conditioning plays in a stressful environment.... Read More
My work often deals with proactive, preventive means to Overcome... Read More
As we celebrate yet another Labor Day, I thought it... Read More
Is your in-tray or inbox full? I don't normally check... Read More
Elizabeth, 32, cried during anger management class as she told... Read More
Stress Management |