Stress is of course a common and constant state in our society… and those who have mastered the art of stress management seem few and far between. However, I believe we can be among those few! For years I have watched, observed, asked questions, and studied some of the ways and habits of those who do it well. The longer I watch and learn, the more I realize that their lives are living proof that just about anyone can do it… if only we are willing to genuinely learn and give it a whole hearted try.
Think about it… we can continue in our normal patterns and suffer the consequences that bad stress produces in those who stay the course. Or we can begin taking these priceless morsels of wisdom from those who have done it well, master them, and experience many, if not all the various benefits these great stress management techniques can wield.
Below I have suggested 10 of these stress management practices I alluded to above. They may be too much to attempt conquering all at once, but try to master just one at a time… and see if we can’t set a new positive stress pattern for a healthier, successful, and just overall more enjoyable future.
1. Know your stress factors! So this one may be a bit obvious… or perhaps not. Whatever the case, knowing what it is that is causing our stress can go along way to overcoming it.
2. Distinguish between good and bad stress! This one can be very easy to get confused. However, while bad stress can really wreck havoc on our health and life style, good stress is absolutely vital for our success and well being on just about every level!
3. Don’t procrastinate! Putting it off may seem to relieve stress for the moment. But it will also cause us to carry that stress for an extra day, month, and up to the rest of our lives… not to mention other day-to-day problems it may cause.
4. Get rid of the clutter! Sure, we like our stuff… and it’s really easy to simply let things lie wherever it was last convenient to drop them. But contemplate hosting a few guests, or where to find that important bill that was due who knows when, and all that stuff piling up can really become a significant stress factor!
5. Take a 20 minute nap/rest every day! This may sound counter productive, but being over tired can really deplete our resistance to bad stress. Some studies suggest that just 20 minutes during the day can account for up to two hours of sleep at night, and actually increase our level of productivity.
6. Exercise daily! Even if that means only taking a 15 minute walk, and doing some good stretches. Time spent exercising really is worth its weight in gold. We will feel better, be more alert, relax easier, think clearer, and have more energy and creativity to cope with just about any stress life throws our way.
7. Plan to get out of debt! It is amazing just how stressful debt really is… and how easy it is to get into. However, this little critter is considered among the top reasons for financial stress, and the leading cause of divorce in the US.
8. Never hold a grudge! The things we often suffer from the hand of another may very well be entirely unjust. But how has holding these things against them ever really solved the problem? And yet for those of us who are unwilling to let go, the stress this monster can produce can be devastating.
9. Do one thing you fear each day! This is one of my favorites… no, I am not masochistic or anything of the sort 
But in many cases bad stress is associated with those things we fear the failing of. Purposefully doing one of these things each day simply uncovers how little we really have to fear.
10. Celebrate your successes! It is easy to overlook these in light of our failures. But why not do just the opposite? How many times did Edison fail before he successfully invented the light bulb? Yet we remember him for his One success! So keep trying… and when you do succeed (even if that success is “small”), celebrate… and never forget that success!
So, there you go… where you take it from here is up to you. In the mean time feel free to leave your questions, comments, success stories, and ideas on how to better improve this information. While I will not always be able to respond, who knows how your thoughts (on the subject) may positively impact the stress life of another.
For more on stress management, click here!
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