Stress Management Strategies – How To Have Stress So Stress Doesn’t Have You

by Inspiration4Living.com

At some point in your life, you will experience stress. Stress is inevitable. No one can avoid stress in life, nor can anyone control some of the factors that cause stress.

You can, however, control how you manage and handle your stress so you have it and it doesn’t have you. Here are some stress management strategies that you can try the next time you feel stressed.

Although it may sound like a cliche, taking deep breaths has been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress. Couple the deep breathing with counting to ten for each breath to give you time to unwind, calm down and then look at the stress with more confidence. Taking slow, deep breaths forces your heart rate to slow down and helps you concentrate for a few minutes on something other than the stress.

For this stress management strategy, inhale deeply for five seconds and then exhale fully for the remaining five seconds. Do this several times until you feel the tension relieving in your body. You are now in a much better position to deal with the stress (and the stressor). While you are taking your deep breaths, close your eyes and visualize a calm scene or area.

Another stress management strategy is to learn to prioritize and to say no. One of the biggest stressors people face is that they take on too many projects and have too many deadlines. When you couple this with poor scheduling, you are only adding to your stress.

It’s ok to tell someone no if you know you cannot complete a project or you really don’t want to attend an event. Give yourself some “me” time. If you have a lot of demands at work, learn to delegate responsibilities. By taking control of your schedule, you are taking control of your stress.

Journaling is another great stress management strategy. By writing things down when you feel stressed, you are able to process it and come up with a solution. Journaling is also a great way to vent. When you put the problem that is causing your stress down on paper, you are able to see it in its proper size. Often, we exaggerate our stressors, so by writing it down, you are able to reduce it to a more manageable size.

Go for a walk or do some other physical activity. It is a known fact that your body releases endorphins when you engage in physical activities. Endorphins work to relax your body, thereby reducing stress. Make time in your day for physical activity. Taking a walk is a great, low impact way to get some exercise in your life. By incorporating physical activity into your daily routine, you are also preparing your body to handle stressors more effectively in the future.

Yet another stress management strategy is to listen to music when you are stressed. When you are feeling pressure at home or work, play some soothing music. You can also try playing nature sounds such as waves breaking on the ocean or crickets chirping. By playing a soothing sound, you are resetting your brain waves and calming down so you can handle your stressor more effectively.

Stress is a natural part of life; however, too much stress can have a number of adverse effects on your body and mind. By practicing stress management strategies before and during stress, you are putting yourself in control and learning to reduce the negative effects. Remember, stress does not have to control you.

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