Seizing Stress: Stress Cannot Be Eliminated So How Do You Deal With It?
People are agreeing that stress cannot be eliminated from our life. The question is; how do you deal with the stress you face on a day-to-day basis? You can become more aware of which stressors are problems in your life. Take a long, hard look at those problems. Are there any that you can change? Can you avoid them by changing small details in your life? If one of your major stressors is being stuck on the freeway during rush-hour traffic you may consider changing your hours or finding a different route to work. Maybe you can remove or avoid that stress by starting to work fifteen minutes earlier.
Perhaps you can manage the intensity of the stress. Can you shorten your exposure to the stress? If it is possible, walk away from the stress. Take a short break from work or sit and practice deep breathing techniques at your desk before tackling another project. The important thing is to recognize what you can change and work on changing those circumstances. Practice time management techniques, take a different way to work, or walk away from a confrontational co-worker.
You may also try reducing the intensity of your reactions to the stress. The stress reaction is triggered by your view of a physical or emotional danger. Are you making too much of the stress and overreacting. This is a touchy subject, but sometimes it helps to take a step back and look practically at our reactions to some stress. Does everything feel critical and urgent? Are you the one that see them that way? Look at the situation through the eyes of someone else. Put the situation into perspective. Is it possible you are reacting to this situation because of other stressors in your life? Try calming down and looking at the circumstances and how you are reacting. If your emotions are threatening to overwhelm you, you may want to take a step back and look at the situation again.
Learn your physical reactions to stress. If your heart rate increases and you start taking short, shallow breaths, take a minute to bring them back to normal. Work on relaxation techniques such as deep-breathing and muscle reaction. Your doctor, to help you with short-term stress and your physical reaction to that stress, may also prescribe medication. Medications alone are not the only answer. It may take talking to a professional trained in dealing with stress management and depression to help you in the long-term.
Be sure you have the physical reserves to deal with stress. Exercise will build your cardiovascular fitness. You should have a good cardiovascular workout from three to four times a week. Biking, jogging, swimming, and walking are great ways to get cardiovascular benefits. Eat nutritious and balanced meals. Stay away from processed sugars and simple carbohydrates. You will be able to preserve a healthy weight and be better equipped to manage the stress in your life. Avoid nicotine, caffeine, and other stimulants, have fun, and get enough rest. These activities will help you be equipped to deal with unexpected or long-term stress.
