Stress and You (1)

2018-10-01T10:48:09+00:00

By Virtue Digest

We live in a world where we have to grapple with all manner of stuff that competes for our attention and ultimately stresses us out. Whether it’s trying to meet up with deadlines and busy work schedules, coping with loss, handling heart break from relationships gone souror adjusting to a new environment, stress if managed the right way can be quite beneficial.So ladies, let’s look at some tested and proven strategies for managing stress.#1: Avoid unnecessary stressLearn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them.Avoid people who stress you outTake control of your environmentAvoid hot-button topicsPare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” #2: Alter the situationIf you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things.Express your feelings instead of bottling them up.Be willing to compromise.Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head on.Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. Plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself. #3: Adapt to the stressorIf you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude.Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.

Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year?Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts.We will round off this topic on our next discussion. Till then, Ladies stay STRESS FREE!