stress
3 effective ways to better manage
Would you be surprised to discover
that stress has been named as an
underlying factor in up to 80% of
illnesses?
That’s 80%!
Would you be surprised to find that most of the
people around you feel stressed much of the time?
Stress is a normal part of life, the key is in how
you manage your stress. This article will show
you 3 effective ways to better manage your stress.
1. Identifying Your Stressors: Be Specific
One of the best ways to manage stress in your life
is to first become aware of exactly what it is that
causes you stress, because if you can name the
stressor, then you can take the necessary steps
to minimize or eliminate it.
When identifying what stresses you, be as specific
as possible. In other words, instead of writing
down the word, “work”, and write down what it
was about work that causes you stress:
• Miscommunication with coworkers
• Feeling unequipped to tackle a new project
• Balancing work and the needs of your family
When you are specific in naming your stress,
you have taken an important first step to taming
the stress. Being specific helps you make clearer
decisions about what you can do to reduce your
stress.
2. Stress: Choosing What to Tackle and What
to Release
When facing a stressful time, it can be very
helpful to categorize and prioritize the things
that are causing your stress. There are two critical
questions to ask yourself when doing this:
• In this situation, is it a high priority or a low
priority?
• Is it easy to change or difficult to change?
When you ask yourself the two questions (high
priority or low priority, able to change or difficult
Health
to change?) you can determine where it’s best to
put your time and energy.
Not every issue or situation is worth the attention
we give it; sometimes we stress over things that
really don’t matter, or things we can’t change.
Use these questions to help you decide which
problems deserve your attention and which ones
don’t, and spend your energy accordingly.
3. When You Can’t Change It, Change the Way
You See It
One type of stress none of us can avoid is
Environmental Stress. Environmental stress is the
stress that you can do absolutely nothing about.
This includes things like the weather, traffic, and
getting stuck in the slowest line at the post office.
Since we can do nothing about environmental
stressors, an effective way to deal with them is
to let go of the hold they have on us and reframe
the experience.
One way to do that is to reframe a stressful
situation and see it with a perspective of gratitude.
For example, instead of being overwhelmed by
piles of laundry, you can say to yourself, “I’m
so fortunate to have all these clothes to wear.”
Or when you are stuck in the slowest line at the
grocery store, you can look at your cart full of
food and remember to be grateful that you can
buy what you need.
Other people choose to do practical things to
reduce their stress. For example, try keeping
audio books in your car to make your slow
commute more tolerable. As you drive you can
listen to entertaining or educational materials
that you wouldn’t make time for otherwise. Or
you can carry a magazine or book to read when
you are encountered with unexpected delays.
Article by Josee Smith
WomanToWomanMagazine.com 13
/WomanToWomanMagazine.com
