subject: How To Develop A Default Stress-busting Routine [print this page] Have you ever consciously picked a response to stress? Most people have a set response to stressful situations. However, it's not a response that they've consciously picked.
They might first start thinking about everything that went wrong. Then they might think about all the things they still have to do. Then they might start beating themselves up. Finally, they start thinking about what other people might think if they fail and manage to skyrocket their stress levels.
That's just one example. Chances are, you already have a standard response for stress. But chances are, you didn't consciously design that stress response system.
Developing a good stress response system can completely change your relationship to stress. Instead of experiencing stress as something that controls you, it becomes a small bump in your life that occasionally comes up during tough projects.
Here's how to develop a default stress-busting routine.
==> Decide What Goes Into the Routine
There are a lot of different ways you can respond to stress. Some responses work great for some people, but don't work at all for others.
Ideally, your routine should only take 10 to 15 minutes max. That way, if you find yourself getting stressed in the middle of your work day, you can just slip into your routine, relieve your stress and move on.
Here are a few suggestions of activities you can put into your stress relieving routine:
* A song with emotional significance. Music can be a powerful mood shifter.
* A quick bout of exercise. For example, 5 minutes of jumping rope or a quick run around the block.
* Slapping your arms, legs and torso with your hands. It sounds strange, but this exercise gets the blood flowing in your body and wakes you up right away.
* A phone call to your own voice mail, venting whatever you're stressed about. You never have to listen to it - All you need to do is get things off your chest.
* A game you can play. Try to solve a rub-ix cube or play a quick game of solitaire.
Again, some of these might work incredibly well for you, or they might not work at all. Use one of the above or come up with your own.
==> How to Replace Your Existing Stress Routine
How do you get in the habit of actually using your newly designed anti-stress routine? If you don't make a strong effort to replace your old habits with new ones, chances are the habits just won't stick.
Set an alarm clock on your watch to go off every 2 hours. When the watch alarm beeps, ask yourself: Am I stress right now?
Most people don't actually realize when they're stressed. Instead, they get home at the end of the day feeling absolutely horrid.
This system will help you start to notice when you're stressed when it actually happens. Then you can respond with your stress busting routine.
Do this consistently for 30 days and your new anti-stress habit will be ingrained. Change this one habit in your life and your overall level of stress will drop like a rock.
