subject: How to Reduce, prevent, and Cope with Stress [print this page] How to Reduce, prevent, and Cope with Stress
Stress is all around us. The bills are not going to stop coming. You are trying to figure out how to get more for each dollars spent. You wish you have more time to run your errands. Career and Family responsibilities will always be demanding.
Guess what?
You have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you're in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.
Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.
Identify Your Stress
If you want to have better stress management you need to start identifying the sources of stress in your life. Start a journal. It will help to identify places where stress aren't that obvious. It is easy to over look stress inducing things thoughts, feeling and behaviours. Another place to identify your sources of stress is your habits, attitude and excuses. You may know that you're constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it's your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress.
Mange Stress
If you method of coping with stress is not contributing to your greater emotional physical health. It is time for change. Look for healthier methods. Change comes in 2 form. You can either change your reaction or you change your situation. When deciding which is the best options. Use the 4 As: Avoid, Alter, Adapt, Accept.
Situation Change your reaction
-Avoid Stressor -Adapt to stressor
-Alter Stressor -Accept to stressor
You need to find your own way of managing your stress. We are all different and our response to managing stress is unique. So experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control. Gather the results of the things you tried. Keep those that work and throw the rest away. Like everything in life. It is a learning process. So have fun with it.
