Top Tips for Beating Stress
Simple Ways to Combat Stressful Situations
While it may seem overwhelming, there are some proven methods of combating stress, leaving you calmer and more in control. Why not try these stress-busting techniques:
Exercise regularly
Just twenty minutes of brisk walking every day will make you feel better. Exercise reduces stress and will help you catch up on more restful sleep. It is a proven way of getting your body to unwind and release tension.
Work out your triggers
Keep a diary for at least two weeks that catalogues times, events and situations that seem to elevate your stress levels. Stress can become habitual, and in this way you will be able to spot any patterns and work out a strategy for avoiding your key triggers.
Talk about it!
Discuss your diary with a good friend or your partner. Sometimes, just the act of voicing your concerns can work wonders. Ask your friend to offer you some impartial advice as to how to ease any issues that you’ve discovered.
Clear your space
If your working area or house is cluttered, it can make you feel more tense. Set some time apart each day to organise your space, and you may find that your attitude and mood changes along with it.
Focus on your breathing
Breathe deeply, as this really helps to calm you down. Slowly inhale while counting to five, hold your breath for five seconds, and then breathe out slowly. Do this up to ten times until you can feel the tension lifting. Often when we are stressed, we tend to breathe shallowly. Focus on breathing from your stomach.
Plan breaks in your day
Give yourself time to deal with things as they arise. Get up a little earlier, or prepare the night before for a stressful day ahead. Give yourself time out to be kind to yourself, instead of creating pressure to perform constantly all day.
Use scent to boost your positivity
Certain scents can activate the production of the brain's feel-good chemical (serotonin). Pop a few drops of lavender, chamomile or jasmine essential oil on to a tissue to sniff when you feel your stress levels rising.
Think positively
Use positive thoughts to improve the way you feel. Instead of being negative, repeat a mantra to yourself such as ‘I am a positive person’, ‘I am in control’, or ‘I am well liked and I’m great at my job’. Listen to the way your mind deals with stress, and catch negative thoughts before they become habitual.
Further resources:
- Eliminate Stress From Your Life Forever - Atkinson, A. and Peterson, S.(Pentagon Press), 2007.
- Surviving Job Stress: How To Overcome Workday Pressures - Arden, J. B. (Career Press), 2002.
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