The FAQ’s On Dealing With Stress and Everyday Life
We have settled that it is impossible to erase stress from our lives, so how do we manage it? People experience stress because of too much too do, poor sleep, a diet that isn’t nutritious or the effects of an illness. Stress is also mental. You may suffer from stress because of your work environment, relationships, and other worries about kids, money, retirement, and a loved one’s illness.
Stress does come from less dramatic forms of stress and can come from ordinary day-to-day responsibilities. Pressures, duties, and time management problems may cause emotional stress that isn’t always obvious. Stress from everyday life is displayed by higher blood pressure and heart rate, respiration is increased, and the blood flow increases to your muscles. This happens to prepare your body for “fight or flight” response to a sensed threat.
Stress is also accompanied by the feeling of not being “in control.” Each person handles stress in a different way and while one person may be stressed-out because of moving or a career change, another person may take it into stride and consider it to be an adventure. Headaches, back pains, insomnia and other minor illnesses can be caused by the stress of everyday life. Stress can also contribute to other major illnesses that are potentially life threatening.
We can use reminder now and then on ways of controlling everyday stress. You may need to make lifestyle changes and make a change in priorities. Don’t be afraid to say “NO.” The busiest people seem to be asked to add more and more responsibility and they forget how to say no. Check your priorities. Do you need to take on that one extra chore that someone has asked you to do? Does it mean taking time away from your family? People who are used to you saying yes may have a hard time understanding your change of lifestyle. Take the time to talk to them explaining why you are making the changes in your life. Be willing to compromise if that is called for, but if the job is unnecessary or there is someone else qualified to do it, say no.
Get rid of the image that you are superhuman. No one is perfect and we are not supposed to be. Don’t ask too much of your friends and loved ones, don’t ask too much from yourself. Don’t be afraid to delegate and don’t be too proud to ask for help!
Meditation and prayer can make a difference in how you handle everyday stress. Taking ten to twenty minutes out of your day to meditate, listen to music, relax and think of positive and pleasant things is not too much to ask. Try to clear your mind of “junk” and let it relax, releasing the tension that is stored there.
Picture yourself in a less stressful situation. Imagine the outcome of the event that is causing you stress in a positive way. If you are giving a speech and it’s causing you stress, imagine the applause you will receive when you are finished.
Take one issue at a time. Too many people allow their body to be overloaded with too many responsibilities until everything looks impossible. Inertia can set in, and then more stress because of the inability to finish the task. Making a list and crossing off each item is a great visual way to see you are taking care of responsibilities and you won’t feel so overwhelmed.
