5 tips for successful stress management

How do you manage stress? The first stage is to assess what precisely is causing you to feel stressed, then consider the effects of the stress on your wellbeing and then to use techniques to successfully cope with the stress or ideally remove it.

Here are five tips to start you off and help you cope with every day stress.

1) Identify what your sources of stress are. There a number of techniques which help you do this. One is to keep a ‘stress Diary’. This works by noting down everything that causes you stress. Do this every day for about two weeks. Note the event which triggers the feelings of stress, the effects on you, your reaction or changed behaviour, and the way you coped or did not cope with the stress. When you see what is causing you stress and how you cope, then you can see how your lifestyle, work environment or coping mechanisms may need changing.

2) If you have worked out what is the cause of stress in your life, whether it is tension within the family, an impending divorce or the level of effort expected of you at work. The next step is to eliminate unhealthy ways of coping with stress. These include things like alcohol consumption, over eating, bottling up your feelings, isolating yourself from others or procrastinating over important things. Take a look at your habits and decide what may need changing.

3) Deal with stress by using the four As; Avoiding, Altering, Adapting to or Accepting the Stressor.

Avoid:

You can try avoiding the stressor by, for instance, learning to say no to extra responsibilities at work and not taking on more than you can handle. If you know what gets you stressed, then simply try to decrease these things within your daily life.

Alter:

Altering the Stressor will involve speaking up about a difficult work situation, being willing to compromise over things, or managing your time better so things flow better.

Adapt:

Try also to adapt yourself to stressors by viewing the situation in the ‘wider context’. Yes, today the traffic is particularly bad, however in five years time, will it really matter? Perhaps you are stuck waiting at the bank, which indeed can be frustrating, however the extra time can also be a good opportunity to make a few phone calls, make a shopping list, read a good book or similar activities.

Accept:

Accepting the stressor will involve accepting that some things are simply beyond your control. Death and illness are often simply not in our hands to change, so accept them as unalterable facts. Try also to find the ‘upside’ of the situation. Yes you may have spent a long time waiting in an office but you also managed to use the time well, to read a chapter of your book and perhaps you even had a nice chat with the person sitting next to you. Learning to forgive the failings of others is also important for reducing stress. Acknowledging that people are fallible human beings when you are mistreated or let down will make the situation easier to deal with. Try to accept people for what they are and understanding that not everyone will live up to your high standards; this acceptance will reduce the stress such situations can cause.

4) Learn relaxation techniques.

From learning good posture, how to breathe correctly to meditation and deep relaxation techniques, it can be very beneficial for your wellbeing to have your own set of stress coping techniques which you will use regularly to maintain a calm and relaxed life.

5) Exercise and diet. Eating healthy food, cutting down caffeine and sugar consumption as well as regular exercise will really help you maintain a calm and content daily life.