Stress…
Stress can be stressful. It can make me have no clue which direction to go in, it can make me flustered, indecisive, anxious and physically unwell. Especially in the current climate. So what IS stress, and what are some simple ways to manage it?
Stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best, or so I have been told. But when I’m constantly running in emergency mode, my mind and body pay the price. If I frequently find yourself feeling frazzled and overwhelmed, I have to find time to take action to bring myself back into balance. I can protect yourself—and improve how I think and feel—by learning how to recognise the signs and symptoms and taking steps to reduce it.
Stress is the body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. Danger, real or imagined automatically kicks in the fight or flight mode. Sounds like fun huh? It’s not. I have learnt that its the body’s way of protecting you, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life—giving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid a car accident. It can help you rise to meet challenges. It’s what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at work, or drives you to study for an exam when you’d rather be watching TV. But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and being just a tad crappy. For me it effects my health, mood, productivity, relationships, and my quality of life.
Okay, so stress is normal, can be good but can also be bad. So what do I do to stop myself spontaneously combusting every day. Well, I have been working on this for a while now and the things that work for me, and may work for you are:-
Breathe - daft but taking a few really deep breaths helps
Go outside for a walk, just round the block, leave the phone
Do all the little tasks that only take a couple of minutes straight away e.g dishwasher, washing, call my Mum, answer those emails...
Keep my home tidy - it is true, tidy home, tidy mind. This really helps me feel better if my environment is tidy
Listen to music - nothing quite like some 90’s dance tunes to make me smile
I forcefully cuddle my dog and cats, they hate me but I don’t care, it makes me feel better
Learn to say NO - this is a biggie for me, and one I am still working on as I want to do everything and please everyone!
Remind myself that the only adult I am responsible for is ME
Ask myself on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being death, how important is this 'thing' that is stressing me out?
Find someone to laugh with, laughter is A-Mazing!
This is by far from a definitive list, I am always learning new things, reading stuff, changing tactics. I have popped some articles below if you fancy reading a bit more about this stuff. There may well be some better techniques in there! Also, please remember these are just a few things that work for me, I have been working on my stress levels for years now and still have blips; I still flip out at the kids, get grumpy, take on too much work, get crabby with friends who text me stuff they think is funny but I’m too self obsessed to get it……yeah, I’m one of those people. But these tips are the ones I use every single day.
So, when your shoulders are aching, you have unexplained headaches, can't sleep, stop for a moment and consider what small changes you can make. And remember, you can say no to things and self care is NOT selfish. Hot Chocolate, with marshmallows and cream is also scientifically proven to help (it’s not but I tell myself that).
Articles on how to manage Stress...
'If you're stressed, whether by your job or something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause.
The most unhelpful thing you can do is turn to something unhealthy to help you cope, such as smoking or drinking.
"In life, there's always a solution to a problem," says Professor Cary Cooper, an occupational health expert at the University of Lancaster.'
Read Article HERE
Using Self-Help Techniques for Dealing with Stress
'It may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress. The bills won’t stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day, and your work and family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of managing stress. Stress management is all about taking charge: of your lifestyle, thoughts, emotions, and the way you deal with problems. No matter how stressful your life seems, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control'
Read Article HERE