|
Back to Stress
Management
Stress Management
Keys to Coping A Blueprint for Stress Management
Keys to Coping A Blueprint for Stress
Management
You sit with your hands clutched to the steering wheel, your
stress level rising by the minute.
You have exactly ten minutes before you have to get to the day
care center, and theres an accident blocking traffic.
After you pick up Jolene, you will have to go to the supermarket,
the dry cleaner, and the library. Then it is time to rush home for dinner, bathe Jolene, put
her to bed, then collapse onto your bed.
You may find that your days are highly stressful and your nights
might be as well.
The good news is that there are techniques you can use in order to
bring your stress level under control. One of these is rehearsing your behavior. Say, for
instance, you are preparing for a job interview.
You can role play, with your spouse playing the part of the
interviewer and you portraying the interviewee. In this way, you can practice your answers to
likely questions.
Knowing what to expect in advance can help you to control your
stress level.
Another effective technique is to reframe debate. For instance,
suppose you have had a disagreement with your co-worker.
You are worried that you will never be able to enjoy camaraderie
with your co-worker again. As a result, your stress level has hit the roof.
You will be much better off if you see the disagreement as a
challenge you must simply work your way through. Look at the debate as a discussion between
two intelligent people.
Try your best to see the other persons perspective. In this way,
you will be engaging in problem-solving rather than complaining, and your stress may be
reduced because of it.
Yet another stress management technique you can use is learning to
control your anger. It is often not a particular situation, but your reaction to it, that
causes your stress level to climb.
When you find yourself becoming angry, redirect your energy. Think
of something relaxing, such as a forest or a seashore. Let the waves or the trees carry your
anger away.
The old adage, "Do not go
to bed angry," is a motto you should live by. The less anger you experience, the less
stressed out you will feel.
You might also try to stop your negative thinking. Whenever a
negative thought comes to mind, say "Stop!" to yourself. Or imagine putting a stop sign in
front of your negative thought.
The idea here is to put an end to negative thinking to, in effect,
put it on the shelf so that you do not have to worry about it. You will be surprised how
relaxed you feel, once you stop engaging in negative thinking.
Another stress reliever is to find ways to boost your self-esteem.
Being hard on yourself can produce a great deal of stress.
Once you recognize that you are a person worthy of love, you will
be better able to cope with the stressors that come your way.
Exercise is one route you can take in order to feel better about
yourself. It is a proven fact that individuals who exercise have better outlooks on
life.
You may also want to set goals for yourself. Perhaps you have
always wanted to knit. Now is your golden opportunity.
Or maybe you would like to run a marathon by the end of the year.
The important thing is to set realistic goals and to commit to them.
Once you reach your goal, you will likely feel on top of the
world. As you make progress toward your goal, you could find your stress level
subsiding.
Stress relief is an on-going process. You can not expect to reduce
your stress-level permanently in one day. But, by taking the steps listed above, you might
find yourself better able to deal with stress on a daily basis.
Remember that you may not be in complete control of what happens
to you on any given day, but you can control your reaction to it.
By focusing on the positive, putting an end to negative thinking,
and setting goals for yourself, you should find your stress level declining.
With less stress to worry about, you will find that life is more
enjoyable. Even that daily commute to the day care center might become more
tolerable.
|
