Managing Stress in Today’s World

It’s a stressful world we live in.

There’s no denying it. Studies from across the nation tend to say the same thing:

People are much more stressed now than ever before. Not even children are spared, with increased homework workloads, extracurricular activities and social pressures.

It doesn’t take any stretch of the imagination to know what stress can do to a person. Its negative impact can affect a person emotionally, physically and spiritually.

People are looking for alleviation by reaching out to therapists and doctors for remedies to their stress-induced ailments like depression and migraines. Some even seek religious counsel.

But stress is an everyday occurrence and regardless of what a person may do to try and eradicate it from his life, the demands of our fast-paced and busy lives are not likely to abate. Stress is inevitable.

For that reason, we need to find ways to cope with stress instead of believing that we can get rid of all of it with one fell swoop. We can’t do that. What we can do, however, is implement daily strategies that can help us take pressure off ourselves, enjoy life and stay in touch with the core of who we are.

When you’re confronted with stress, always remember that you have other options than letting it get to you, regardless of what day of the week it is.  In theory, Monday is no more important than Tuesday, Tuesday is no more important than Wednesday and so on. If you keep this in the back of your mind and use the following tips to help you cope, you’ll realize that stress is a transitory and easily-manageable phase.

So, what can the average, overburdened person do to help himself deal with stress?

I’ll provide you with seven tips- one for each day of the week.

• Reorganize and reprioritize your life. Recognize what’s really important to you and allot the appropriate amount of energy to it. Teach yourself about time management and other personal organization techniques that can help make your life easier and more enjoyable.

• Use your body to help ease your mind. Regular exercise, relaxation techniques and healthy eating habits can contribute to reduced stress levels. Listen to your body for rest cues and get enough sleep. Stay away from drugs and alcohol.

• Learn to let go. Some things are just simply out of our control, regardless of how much we’d like to change that fact. You don’t have to completely absolve yourself of responsibility. Instead, redistribute responsibility to where it belongs. You wouldn’t blame a crossing guard for a stoplight being out, would you? Like the crossing guard, you’re just in the middle of a stressful scenario, trying to navigate the situation.

• Stay positive. A great part of stress is the imagining of worst case scenarios. You’d be surprised how far optimism can take you in life. Plus, if you don’t remain upbeat, there’s always the chance that the pessimism will turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy, which can keep you in the negative cycle of stress.

• Distance yourself from people or scenarios that cause you undue stress. Stress is contagious and often has a domino-like effect. One stressful person or situation can lead to many others. And who needs that?

• Give yourself a break! Stress can often be traced back to too much pressure we put on ourselves. Set realistic goals for yourself and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how minor.

• Ask for help when you need it. Too many of us believe that we’re alone when dealing with stress or that no one could understand our situation. Not true. In addition to health care professionals and support groups, friends, family and even pets can help you reduce stress. All you have to do is reach out.

If you incorporate these tips into your daily life, there’s a good chance you’ll see a significant reduction in your stress levels and start feeling like yourself again. And that’s the first step in reaching your personal life’s potential.

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Photo by steveleenow, flickr.com