Stress Management

Stress is a part of the human living experience; however, living with high levels of stress can put your health and wellbeing at risk.  The emotional stability, physical health and mental clarity can be adversely affected by excess stress making it seems impossible to manage and enjoy life. Stress can manifest physically in the body causing illness; the immune system can be affected by stress leading to the susceptibility to infections and viruses. Stress is caused by a number of factors including physical causes such as changes in life, a death or separation, chemical stress from toxins, drugs and alcohol, emotional factors such as discourse in relationships, loss of a relationship and other unresolved emotional issues creates stress. Time constraints and having a feeling to too much life and too little time is one of the more common types of stress leading a person to wonder how they can even fit stress management into their already overbooked schedule!

With stress being a part of our daily lives it is foolish to think we can eliminate stress all together.  At some level, managed stress can motivate us and help drive us to new solutions and betterment of our lives as well as the lives of others.  It is the mismanagement of stress that can cripple us and leave us in a state that cannot move us or benefit our lives at all.  As we learn and put into practice the techniques to manage our stress we enrich our lives and can get back to a place of ease and happiness.  The stress management techniques below can be used in conjunction or as the situation arises and are simply a few of a multitude of techniques to use.

• Just say no:This is an important stress management tool…to learn to say no.  Understanding our limits and empowering ourselves to live within those limits whether in our professional or personal life can greatly reduce our stress.  As much as many of us just want to do our part, if we are taking on too much we will not do an adequate job and it is better to just say no to the extra responsibilities we are tempted to take on.
• Avoid stressful people:Among our many relationships some just may not be healthy for us.  If there are people in your life that simply stress you out or someone that is a toxic relationship it is best to spend less time with that person or end the relationship all together.  Many times we feel we can help a person or ‘save' them from their selves; however, in a lot of cases they simply do not want ‘saved' and you are simply enabling their toxic behavior by playing into it.
• Control your environment:Avoid the environments that cause you stress if at all possible.  If traffic is heavy and stressful on your way home from work try choosing a less traveled route even if it takes a bit longer; the scenery may even be more relaxing and pleasurable.  If the crowds are stressful for you while shopping you may want to explore online shopping to avoid the crowds and the stress.  If your household is stressful try rearranging furniture to make it flow better or try setting up boundaries for house mates and children who may be the culprit of the stress.  Ask that no one demands anything from you in the first 30 minutes you are home from work, take time in a quiet room to let go of work stress or simply relax in a hot bath before jumping into your home life after work.
• Choose your conversation:Avoid the more stressful heated topics of conversation such as religion, politics and parenting.  These topics are highly personal and sensitive and will nearly always create stress and in most cases with no resolve.  Issues such as these will rarely lead to a person moving from one side of the topic to the other and the conversations will more than likely lead to discourse rather than unity.
• Healthy expression:Learn how to express yourself in healthy ways such as communicating your needs, expectations and concerns in open and polite ways.  If you keep these things bottled up you will likely build resentment and create additional and unnecessary stress.  Healthy expression also includes sharing your feelings with a trusted friend or therapist; venting can be a very good stress management tool.
• Watch your expectations and learn to compromise:When we set up expectations for another human we set our selves up for unhappiness and resentment.  Do not anticipate the reactions or actions of another and instead let go of that need to expect and control.  Likewise we must also learn to compromise and be willing to match our requests we have for others with our own actions.  Simply find a middle ground in all situations that must be shared with another.
• Face life head on:Deal with your problems as they arise facing them head on, but always be compassionate when dealing with them.  If you need something in life or help, ask for it rather than hinting or hoping someone will volunteer.
• Practice time management:Managing our time poorly can be a chief source of stress when we feel we are always behind and stretched too thin.  Try to plan ahead and include possible pot holes in our schedule that can cause us to need a few minutes extra.
• Let go of the need to control:Much of our life is beyond our control – especially the choices and behavior of others.  Focus on the things you can change and let go of the things you cannot change.  It is always a good idea to manage your own life and leave the management of other people's lives to the other person.
• Forgive:Let go of anger, do not hold a grudge or resentments.  Free yourself from all that negative energy by learning to forgive others, forgive yourself and simply move on.
• Look for the good in life:Look for the positive side of any situation.  When something stressful and difficult happens in life there is usually a positive aspect that can be taken from it somewhere; look for it.  Focus on the lessons you may have learned that will keep you from repeating the situation rather than the situation itself.  By spending our energy acknowledging and looking for the good instead of focusing on the bad we empower ourselves and retrain ourselves to be more positive.
• Chill out:Be sure to make rest and relaxation time a priority even if it means going to bed a little early at night so you can get up a little early and begin your day with quiet meditation.  Schedule into your evening a time when you will just stop what you are doing and sit down with a good book, a hot bath or a cup of herbal tea.  Perhaps you can schedule 15 minutes in the middle of your day to just lie down and quiet your mind, play a musical instrument or listen to soothing music to rejuvenate your senses.
• Healthy choices:Make healthy choices in life including eating fresh foods with minimal processing. Be sure to eat 3 healthy meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner and add snacks as needed to keep your energy level up. Getting exercise with a physical activity for 30 minutes at least three days each week will greatly reduce your stress reactors.  Limit the amount of caffeine and sugar you take in will help you avoid the ‘crash' both can cause as well as helping you to sleep better at night.  Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs that might seem to be an easy escape from stress; however, the relief is temporary and the lasting stress on your body will add to your stress.  Get 7 – 9 hours of sleep at night where your body can recover from the physical and mental stresses gathered through the day.
• Community:find a support system or activities with positive up beat people to help enjoy life and diffuse stress.  Just as spending time with stressful negative people can create additional stress, spending time with positive non stressed people can help alleviate it.

When we learn how to manage the stress in our lives we can learn to live our lives fully and enjoy the human life experience.  We are able to add to our lives the things we enjoy rather than feeling like we are drudging on day to day to simply survive or get through the day.  By practicing some of the tips and techniques listed above you can begin to move in the directions you desire and manage the stress that is a part of living.

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