Stress Management Tips
Managing stress is an important component of healthy living. The first step is to identify your stressors. What are the things that make you most frustrated? Typical stressors include overspending, overeating, overcommitting, not having enough time, personality clashes and family problems.
Everyone has to deal with the problems of life. When we accept things that are out of our control we don’t waste a lot of time or energy on issues we can’t do anything about. Focusing on the positive and maintaining a positive attitude, can help us find solutions more readily. Often we worry about things that never happen. By keeping things in perspective, we look for the “big picture” and attend to life’s biggest priorities. Our ability to use our skills in acceptance, attitude and perspective can help reduce our reaction to stress.
As an alternative to letting stress control you, take action such as these specific tips:
1.
Manage Your Time . We are all busy. Prioritize your schedule, make a realistic
“to do” list, keep tasks in workable chunks, consolidate, delegate
and learn to say, “no”.
2. Balance Work and Home Life. Taking care of family,
work and self can each be a full-time job. Blending all three important elements
into a realistic balance can be very difficult. Set limits, talk less and
listen more, share responsibilities, schedule time, and ask for help.
3. Exercise. Everyone has a different capacity for stress. Exercise increases our ability to successfully deal with stress. Regular cardiovascular exercise (20 mins, 3-4 days a week) strengthens our body, reduces tension and helps to restore our emotional and physical health.
4. Use Positive Thinking. Being optimistic, avoiding critical thinking and using humor can increase our ability to manage stress. Being prepared for stressful times, accessing resources and looking for ways to “recharge” our personal battery can be helpful.
5. Communicate with Others. Creating a support network of encouraging friends and family, venting your feelings and opening yourself to feedback can be useful stress-busting strategies. Asking for help which sounds simple but can be difficult, acknowledges that you are human and in need of temporary assistance. (Just like the rest of us! )
Stress effects us all, whether it is getting cut off on the highway or working
the grill on a busy Sunday lunch at Cracker Barrel. Managing and relieving
stress, learning to relax and finding ways to “recharge” your
battery will help improve your overall health.
If you would like assistance in developing a plan to manage your stress, please call 1-800-688-6330 or email us at the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). We would be happy to help.
Contributed
by Bill Aldrich, Manager of EAP Services
October, 2005
