Pillar 2: Learning to Manage Stress
5 tips to manage stress in your life
Stress can be … incredibly stressful.
There are health professionals that believe that stress can be the most dangerous poison in your life. Stressful situations can cause a an increased risk of contracting lung diseases, heart problems and even cancers.
Fortunately, you can regain control over the impact of stress on your health. Keep the 5 following thoughts in mind when stress rears its ugly head, and an energy-filled, fit and healthy life can be yours.
1- Recognizing the Causes of Stress in Your Life. Instead of instantly becoming defensive, take some time to decide where the stress came from – poor dietary choices, unhealthy habits, negative relationships, work-life imbalance, or a lack of physical activity, just to name a few. In many instances, you will find that your stress continually arises from a common factor or influence. You can then take the proper action to relieve your anxiety.
It’s important to be honest with yourself. It is tough sometimes to admit that we make our own stress appear out of our conscious actions.
2- Learning Not to Worry. Keeping a journal can help to distinguish the causes of stress, and which ones you do and do not have control over. With the information written, you can see patterns and act accordingly. It can instantly remove a lot of stress from your life. Stress is an energy zapper, and can even cause multiple health problems.
When you feel stressed, try to remember and recite the Serenity Prayer. You give yourself a better chance of experiencing high levels of fitness and daily energy.
“Grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.“
You do not have to believe in God or a higher power to benefit from this thoughtful poem. Just understand that there are things you can change, things you cannot, and then strive to learn which are which.
3 – Separate Caring from Worrying. Are you always worrying? Are you one of those people who says that you just “care too much”? Worrying is not productive. It creates high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, that can wreak havoc on the body. Identifying a problem is always a positive measure. But worrying over it if you cannot take any action to alleviate it means you are manufacturing your own stress.
Clinical psychologist Chad LeJeune wrote the book “The Worry Trap: How to Free Yourself from Worry & Anxiety Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy”. He explains that worrying is simply a futile effort to control the future, something no one can do. Caring is admirable, worrying is futile. Stop worrying and do something for someone else. The action of generosity will alleviate your mind and fulfil your soul.
4 – Practice Smart Time Management. Sometimes stress is a byproduct of an incredibly hectic and busy schedule. When you manage your time efficiently, you practice control over your life. The feeling of tress is usually accompanied by feeling out of control.
Purchase a day planner, or some time management software. Turn your busy, time-limited lifestyle into a well-managed daily action plan. If you are part of a busy family, get everyone involved in creating a family plan that everyone can benefit from.
5 – Understand That Mistakes Are Okay. You are human. That means you will make mistakes. Lots of them. When you are young, when you are middle-aged and when you are old. Mistakes are okay, and a normal part of human growth and experience. The key is in not repeating the same mistakes, and learning from your failures.
The good news is that the other changes you are making in your life as part of the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) menu will also have a positive impact on your stress levels.
Getting more sleep, quitting unhealthy habits, changing your mindset, exercising and eating right will do wonders for your mental health… so keep reading »