Do you feel tense and anxious at work? Do your co-workers and/or boss make you crazy? Is your personal life less than blissful? If so, you've got stress. If you're like most people you've sought refuge from this situation by trying a quick fix or two like calling a friend, walking the dog, or going away for the weekend in an attempt to escape it all. While these strategies may serve as temporary diversions, nothing in your life changes when you return to your routine.
Stress is internal, which explains why it can wreak havoc on your health. It feels awful...it's the sense that you're not in control. The easiest way to mitigate its effect is to take charge of the one and only thing you have the power to control...YOU, and let go of what you can't control. The beauty of this recipe is that by taking control of your life, external or outside things will change in response to your internal changes. Here are 10 steps to destress for your present and future:
1. Heal yourself.
Dr. Bruce McEwen, who wrote The End of Stress As We Know It, suggests that eliminating stress comes right from your grandmother's journal. He says the most effective steps you can take are the simplest: exercise, a healthy diet, regular sleep, moderate to minimal alcohol intake, and no smoking. This, he notes, is the most sophisticated, up to the minute, cutting edge science available!
2. Get organized.
Physical clutter reminds us of things that need to be done and that's stressful. Remove your physical clutter and you'll eradicate your mental clutter, plus you'll feel energized. Please go to http://topten.org/public/AG/AG306.html for a simple organizing solution that will work on any space.
3. Set boundaries.
Boundaries act as a filter to keep you safe from the hurtful behavior of others while allowing in the love, support and nurturing actions we all need. Set your boundaries by: (a) determining what others cannot do to you or in your presence and (b) sharing this information respectfully with anyone who is stepping over one of your boundaries.
4. Take time for yourself.
Put together a list of all the things you love to do but haven't regularly made time to do. Put your list in priority order and enter the top five to seven items into your daily calendar. Your list may include things as simple as journaling, reading a great book, taking a bubble bath, yoga, etc. You'll be more successful getting to these activities when you give them a time and place on your calendar.
5. Be positive.
William James, the father of modern psychology said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude of mind." In other words, what you say and what you tell yourself impact the present and create your future. Love yourself and use the power of positive words, pleasing thoughts and affirming beliefs to live the life you want to live.
6. Work in a career you love.
If you're like most people, you spend the majority of your waking hours at work. You'll know you're in the right profession when: you wake up anxious to go to work, you want to do your best daily, and you know your work is important.
7. Surround yourself with a supportive community.
You are who you spend time with. Hang out with people who love and accept you just the way you are, are interested in you (not what you can do for them), lift you up (not wear you down), solve problems quickly, don't gossip or complain, and know how to have fun. Anything is possible with the right support.
8. Learn to say, "No."
We've all been influenced by people in our life who tell us we should do this or we ought to do that. As a result, we may end up living a life that others have decided for us versus living the life we want. So, the next time you think of something you ought to do or someone else suggests you should do, take a breath and ask yourself if it's something you want to do. If not, just say, "no" or "no thank you." When you say no to things you don't care to do, you are saying yes to you and this will free up your time and energy for the things you choose to do. Bottom line - you'll be happier.
9. Zap tolerations.
A toleration is something that irritates you and drains your energy because it needs to be done, fixed, removed, or changed. If you're like most people you may be tolerating 100 or more things! Put together a list of all the things that bug you, e.g. a dripping faucet, money concerns, your weight, shopping and running errands, not enough time, computer files out of control, your hair, a room that needs to be painted, etc. When your list is complete, group like items and see if one solution will eliminate multiple tolerations. For example, if you have piles of clothing in each bedroom, dirty windows and dust bunnies on your floor, hiring a housekeeper will zap all three tolerations. Line up a housekeeper, today. Then, commit to spending a chunk of time each week to zap your other tolerations. If you have a toleration that you don't have the skill or know-how to fix, consider calling an expert or seek out a skilled professional to trade services with.
10. Get your needs met.
A "need" is not an option, it is something you must have to function fully. It is differentiated from a "want" in that a want is optional. Unmet needs can drive you to distraction and worse. Determine what needs you have that aren't being met, if any, and then take the appropriate action to get them fulfilled. Example: If you've taken a big hit and are going through a career transition, ask a good friend to call you two or three times a week to check in with you and give you support. Other options include calling your own voice mail and leaving supportive messages or hiring a coach who specializes in career transitions. When you acknowledge and satisfy your needs, you will be free to focus on other areas of your life.
If you want to be happier and more successful, focus on the things you have the power to control.
Pam N. Woods is co-author of a bestselling book, Create the Business Breakthrough You Want: Secrets and Strategies from the World's Greatest Mentors; endorsed by Ken Blanchard and Dr. Stephen Covey. She is a Coach U graduate and President of Smart WorkLife Solutions, a coaching and consulting company devoted to co-creating customized solutions to fit clients business and personal organizing needs. Prior to founding her own firm she had a successful 20+ year career as an insurance executive and Vice President of Human Resources. For more free how-to articles and advice, or to contact Woods, visit http://www.worklifecoach.com. Copyright 2004 - Pam Woods
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..... Read More
One question that is not asked enough by people under... Read More
We all know what it feels like to have our... Read More
The Rule of BalanceThere is more to life than work.... Read More
Let's face it! The majority of our time is either... Read More
Have you ever noticed what occurs when you are suddenly... Read More
No this is not related to praying, this is how... Read More
Everyday can be full of stress but we all deserve... Read More
Fear, and its accompanying seriousness, causes our suffering. Fear restricts... Read More
Everyone needs successful stress management techniques. Easy to learn and... Read More
1. The Law of GiftsRichard Bach, author of "Illusions" says... Read More
So many of us live a stressful life. Unfortunately, when... Read More
This anger management Practice draws on the dual wisdom of... Read More
1. The Law of EveryoneIt is not neccessarily wrong to... Read More
ExcusesWe all have them. It amazes me how creative I... Read More
Imagine driving down the road. You are driving with a... Read More
26 ways to minimize and manage the unhealthy effects of... Read More
If you are an anxiety and panic sufferer, then you've... Read More
"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into... Read More
The number one most popular issue that users of a... Read More
We are not designed for long term stress.It causes us... Read More
An excellent stress reducer can be something as simple as... Read More
Most people find it easy to identify the sources of... Read More
Q. So many times in my life, I seem to... Read More
In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..Here's an amazing quote from Time magazine:"At birth a baby's... Read More
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their exacting demands... Read More
The day wasn't going well already. You know how it... Read More
Picture the following scene:It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding... Read More
The fall season signals a shift in most people's minds.... Read More
CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September... Read More
Life is so busy and as mothers we spend so... Read More
Deceiving? You bet they are. How? Without your even knowing... Read More
Have you ever said the words, "This job/my life is... Read More
As tools for change are discussed, one tool - that... Read More
It has long been suggested that "music soothes the savage... Read More
26 ways to minimize and manage the unhealthy effects of... Read More
Punch a pillowScream into a pillowTurn on your favorite music... Read More
Do you ever feel stressed? Is stress a regular component... Read More
What is Stress?Stress may be defined as the three-way relationship... Read More
Everyone knows that stress isn't good - that it can... Read More
Syndicated columnist Dale Dauten recently wrote, "One of life's great... Read More
ExcusesWe all have them. It amazes me how creative I... Read More
First, let's make a distinction between pressure and stress. We... Read More
... Read More
There are times in every person's life when things do... Read More
Question 1"How do I get more time to play?"Answer: Schedule... Read More
Living in our world today can be very stressful. While... Read More
Are you a person who has a keen imagination, a... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
Stress Management |