When I facilitate stress management workshops, I often ask participants: “How many of you would like to live stress free lives? No worries? No concerns? No burdens?” Most soon have their hands up at this point, until I direct them to the nearby local cemetery as the appropriate place for such a state.
Lesson: So long as we are alive, stress is bound to affect our lives.
Stress has been described as the condition which develops when the demands placed on an individual exceeds his or her coping or adaptive abilities. This could be negative stimuli or positive stimuli; where you received tragic news or got notification of being the latest lottery winner!
The two areas where we are challenged to consider our locus of ‘control’ are in:
1. The demand (no control, indirect control or direct control)
2. The response (physical, cognitive or attitude, emotional, behavioural and verbal)
Great stress management programmes allow participants to get a sense of the stress levels (symptoms and effects); discover root causes; consider as many solutions; select those which would suit your lifestyle and interests and provide tools for integration and application.
Here is a list of 20 stress solutions that you may consider:
1. Talk to someone you can trust.
2. Take up regular exercise. Few things can produce a faster dose of stress relief than to often do what the body would have you typically procrastinate. Endorphins are among the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which function to transmit electrical signals within the nervous system. In simple words endorphins are the body’s natural and happy drug, produced at the right time in the right quantity as you exercise.
3. Learn better time management and prioritising strategies
4. Learn to say ‘No’. Be more assertive.
5. Do a personality profile and get to understand your tendencies and self better
6. Create more space between stimulus and response. Train yourself to exercise the gifts (freedom to choose, conscience, self awareness and independent will) you possess that are subject to your habits
7. Meditate. Make time to be still.
8. Sleep early, arise early. Many of the wise sages teach that the early morning hours (first light) is the most creative and receptive part of the day.
9. Intimacy. As taboo as this subject may sound to some, recent studies affirms that “an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away”. Do a ‘google search’ and learn of the scientific benefits.
10. Make time for your hobbies and interests: fishing, sport, gardening, fixing stuff around the house, reading and so much more.
11. Do some yoga. Align the mind, body, breath and spirit.
12. Question unexamined assumptions and beliefs.
13. Repeat affirmations or positive empowering short sentences.
14. Be punctual.
15. Have integrity. Keep your promises.
16. Attend a stand up comedy show. Invite humour into your life.
17. Play with children. Nothing nicer than to play and smother kids who accept you innocently as a superstar.
18. Get into nature. Observe, listen, smell and appreciate.
19. Make a gratitude list.
20. Work an honest day’s work. Build self love by giving your all to what you do.
“The demands keep rising as the control slips away!”
Take control and have fun!
