However, there are some things you can do to manage or minimize stress. The first thing is: Have a medical checkup, to ensure that there is no treatable health issue(s) that is causing the fatigue or depression that sometimes accompany stress.
If your stress is not due to illness or other medical reasons then here are 5 things you can do to immediately start reducing and relieving stress now.
Make up your mind! Is there some unmade decision that is causing you stress? If you need more information or details concerning the situation, get it! Then make up your mind. Indecision can be very debilitating; it is habit forming, feeds upon itself and is stress inducing. We all want to be seen as competent and making decisions is a key life skill to achieving this. As William Joyce says: “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision”.
Get Physical! When did you last do something that was was physically challenging? Sure we lead busy and over-stressed lives, running from point A to point B. However, aren’t we usually in our cars or some other form of mechanical conveyance? When was the last time you time you walked, run or swam? Make exercise a regular part of your day and do exercises that require you to concentrate. Activities such as weightlifting and walking the treadmill can be effective at relieving stress however, they also allow you to feel isolated and you may find yourself focusing on whatever is causing your stress. Competitive sports such as tennis, badminton or racquet ball are all effective at relieving stress and keeping you in shape too. So go for it!
Tune Out! Being informed seems to mean being bombarded by all the negative events in life. While we can’t totally cut ourselves off from the news, we can and must take a break and tune out to relieve the stress of the constant stream of negativity. Take appropriate breaks at work! It’s the law. Take real vacations with the objective of reconnecting with yourself and your family. Many North Americans have not taken their vacation time in years! Then they wonder why they are burnt out, stressed out and lack creativity.
Tune In! When was the last time you listened to you? Are you happy with you? Are there changes that you want to make in your life, but are afraid of the consequences? But, what are you going to about the stress of living a life you consider less than your ideal? The first thing you need to do is to stop making assumptions. Instead of stressing about the desired changes, talk it out with those who will be affected, you might find them more supportive than you feared. Are your reasons for not changing from outside or inside you? Are you using an excuse of imagining what others might think of you? Are you frightened of failure? Turn on you and tune in to your hopes dreams and desires.
Everyone Fails! Get over it! The only way to not fail is to do nothing and you don’t want to be in that category on humans. Doing, creating and achieving are all great stress busters. Set yourself some goals and start fulfilling them. “If the truth be known, most successes are built on a multitude of failures.” Unknown So, instead of being immobilized and stressed out with the fear or failure, get something done. Re-organize your home, change your job, or start writing your book! Start learning how to take better care of yourself physically, professional and emotionally!
Yvonne Finn is a Health and Wellness advisor who specializes in supporting her clients in their efforts to create and maintain a healthy and less stressed lifestyle. Learn how to reduce stress at Yvonnes's website!