4 Ways To Better Manage Stress.
It’s typically at the point of stress becoming significantly overwhelming and causing difficulty in daily functions, that many individuals acknowledge that they may need some help beyond what they are currently doing to better manage their stress. Many individuals report that they were about to lose it and that it was that state of being that pushed them to go seeking help.
Stress can have so many adverse effects on our mental and physical health, that it’s no wonder that significant amounts of stress would lead anyone to breakdown, if not handled with care. Many individuals know that they are stressed but lack the proper tools to manage it on their own. While we will all experience stress to some extent in our lives, for some stress can cause disruption in our daily lives and functioning. While seeking therapy for high levels of prolonged stress can be necessary, there are some things one can do on their own to better manage stress and cope with it.
When recognize stress early and take proactive measures to decrease it we will find that our stress may not become so significant that we can’t control its effects. Today I want to offer you a few simple tips to help you better manage your stress.
1. Acknowledge it. I often remind client’s that it’s okay to not be okay, but that it’s not okay to stay not okay. When we are dealing with stress, it’s important that we acknowledge what we feel and not pretend that we are okay. Acknowledging that you are struggling with stress may look like, informing your support system, having an honest conversation with yourself, or starting to do research on how you can better manage it. Pretending that everything is okay will only lead to you continuing to add on to your stress, which in turn will begin to create an unhealthy life situation for you, and potentially those connected to you.
2. Pull on your support system. It’s so important to identify “your people.” We all need to be able to do life with people, because relationships are a significant part of what creates the human experience. In therapy or outside of therapy, you can identify and categorize your support system so that in times of stress, you know exactly who you can turn to for help, support, or encouragement.
3. Become organized. Sometimes all it takes to decrease or eliminate stress is to become more organized. When you have your to do list laid out before you and you have a clear plan to addressing each of your responsibilities or obligations, you will be able to better manage everything that you have to do. This may look like making to do list, using a planner (paper/physical or electronic) or setting reminders to do things ahead of time instead of procrastinating.
4. Don’t overbook/overextend yourself. For many this is such a difficult task and may not be possible instantly. When we are being pulled in so many different directions and have a heart that desires to help people, be there for those we love and overachieve, we may end up overextending ourselves. Stretching our limits is a sure way to experience unbearable levels of stress. We must learn to prioritize the things we have to do, leave room for the things we love to do (a big part of self-care) and say no to extra things that we are unable to take on. It’s okay to say no!
I’d like you to imagine your stress leaving your mind and body. Think on what that would like for you now. Tell yourself that is possible to live a life that is not controlled by stress. I invite you to try the tips in this post as proactive measures to help manage your stress. These surface level, everyday things that you can do to better manage your stress are great starters. If you feel that your level of stress is beyond what you can figure out on your own, I’d encourage you to speak with a therapist about how therapy may be able to help you decrease or minimize stress. Remember, things happen and life can sometimes be a mess. The struggle is definitely sometimes real, but the goal is to over come every mental encounter.
