Behaviour breeds Behaviour:
Be aware of the type of people that you mix with. If someone is easily stressed and is vocal and visible with it, the chances are you’ll soon be drawn into reacting and becoming stressed. If you know people that get easily stressed, limit your contact with them when they are in this state. That way you’ll not be drawn into their negative wave of emotion.
Positive Stress:
Stress can be positive and can be very useful. Our body responds to stress my increasing adrenalin and giving us a burst of energy ready for the natural “fight or flight” response. Chemicals and sugars are released into our system and can enhance our performance during short periods. So use stress to your advantage if you have a sports game to play or an exam to complete but make sure you take relaxation afterwards to bring your body back into equilibrium.
Breathe to Relax:
If you’ve ever observed someone that is really stressed they’ll often be huffing and puffing, this is because their breathing has become quick and shallow and coming from the upper chest. Take a few deeper breaths and allow your abdomen to expand and retract as you start to breathe deeper and more relaxed. Breathe in for a count of 4 hold for 3 and breathe out for 4. Repeat until you feel more calm and relaxed. Try using qigong or tai chi.
What If’s:
Stress can trigger a stream of negative emotion, thoughts and fears. Most of them starting What if…? Well what if … you were to overcome this hurdle and become a much stronger and more confident person? What if … you faced your fear and conquered it? In stress we tailor everything negatively, be aware of what you are thinking and turn them your thoughts into more positive ones to help you. Remember; most of what you fear never comes true.
What lit the fuse?
In order to take action on what makes you stressed you must first be able to identify what makes you stressed. Knowing what lit your fuse or your trigger points can be very useful in controlling the stress.
System Overload:
Sometimes your stress may be caused because you’ve taken on too much. Or you’re a perfectionist and feel you have to do everything yourself. Learning to say NO, Help and the art of delegation can be very useful in reducing the amount of work you have to do and alleviating the stress straight away.
Basic Needs:
Sleep deprivation, little exercise and the wrong nutrition can soon have our body and mind in a spin. Help yourself by getting good quality sleep, regular exercise and a healthy eating regime will help you to think more clearly and have sustainable energy to see you through.
Follow the above steps towards reducing stress in your life
