Have you been meaning to get around to trying new routes to stress management, but haven't found the right time? How about this weekend? I'm challenging you to find new techniques and strategies now because it's always good to have several tricks up your sleeve for coping with stress. Sometimes we all find ourselves dealing with unexpected stressors, and having proper coping strategies on hand can take much of the stress out of what could otherwise feel like an overwhelming situation. So, if you have a favorite way to relieve stress, it's nice to have a backup (or two). If you have a strategy for preventing stressors from entering your life (like saying no to new commitments), it's nice to have a few. If you have a few words of wisdom that help you cope during tough times...well, you get the idea. This weekend, I invite you to try something new that will expand your stress management repertoire. It's fun, and it'll help you to more effectively cope with unexpected stressors that may come your way. Here are some options to try:
- Basic Stress Plan
Not sure where to start? Here's a basic plan for managing stress. See what you have covered and what you may need to add to your current coping abilities in order to have the right kind of stress management habits to help you to handle whatever comes. - How To Deal With Stressors
Although every situation is different, there are some basic strategies that can help in dealing with most stressors that may come your way. Here's a basic game plan. - Too Busy? Life Plan Strategies
If you want to cut down on the amount of items on your daily to do list, it's helpful to know what's important to keep in your life, and what can be dropped. Here are some tips on making the decisions that can limit the number of stressors you experience on a daily basis. - 5-Minute Stress Relief Strategies
If you're already feeling stressed and want to reverse your body's stress response so you can lower your risk of chronic stress, these strategies work well and they work quickly--a winning combination! See which ones you're already doing, and what might be nice to try this weekend. - 25 Stress Relievers
Need more ideas? Here are some fresh ones. Go down the list and pick something new--you'll be glad you did!
The best lecturer I ever had was a teacher of Behavioural Science whose classes I attended as a mature age student quite some time ago. I once asked her how to reduce stress levels at a difficult point in my life trying to cope with work and family pressures. She told me always to leave myself enough time to do anything; that leaving everything to the last minute was a recipe for creating stress, pressure, anxiety and inefficiency for that matter-”haste makes waste”".
Also she seriously urged the class to withdraw from stressful relationships causing emotional distress. I remember telling a person who was obviously unhappy with certain persons in her circle of acquaintances that she was not obliged to associate with people who did nothing to make her feel good about herself. Realo friends build us up not tear us down. They want to spend time with us, enjoy our company and share common interests and activities. If people aggravate and disrespect us unless their company is unavoidable[as in a work situation] it is masochistic to hang out with them when others who extend warmth and friendship would value our companionship. Good friends, human and animal are wonderfully therapeutic.