4 minute read
8 Top Tips To Help You Manage Stress
Did you know that there are over 360 physical symptoms of stress, causing it to impact on our health, quality of sleep, relationships, in fact every area of our lives?
It’s one of the biggest causes of absenteeism from work, but we can experience stress at any age.
Advertisement
Children often go through unappreciated levels of stress, from peer pressure, worry about exams, concerns about their body image, their popularity. Adults often have work, family and relationship worries and stresses to contend with. Older people may stress about their health, finances, their quality of life. Every age can bring its own stresses and pressures.
Let’s look at eight tips to help you manage stress:
● Acknowledge that some stress is good for you; it makes you perform better, think outside the box, dig deep. Stressed people often get more done in a day, frequently achieving more than they originally anticipated because of their heightened levels of thinking caused by being on alert. But living in a constant stressful state is harmful to health, quality of life and happiness.
● Learn to recognise your amber lights, those traffic light signals that warn you of your rising stress levels as they get perilously close to halt or red. It may be that you get headaches, insomnia, become more irritable, lose your sense of humour, your skin complaints flare up again. Tune in to these warning signs and do something about them before they worsen. Take a break, listen to music, go for a run; intercept when your stress levels give you those warning signs.
● Many people find that a worry/stress list is a good way to manage stress as it helps them itemise everything that needs to be done. A list provides reassurance that things
won’t be forgotten and equally don’t need to be memorised. Have everything listed in your notebook. Then you can add to the list as you think of things, prioritise what you have to do each day, note where you’re up to, what you’ve done and cross out tasks as they’re completed. Remember to congratulate yourself each day for what you’ve accomplished.
● Delegate. Even young children can be given tasks to help. Setting the table, folding towels, tidying up may not be done exactly to your standards, but allowing others to help includes them in the team, helps them feel responsible and teaches them new skills. Delegating to staff encourages them to take on more responsibility and grow in confidence as they become more proficient. They may even come up with new ideas as they become more adept in their work.
● Hire help. You’re not always the best person for the job, so spend money on cleaning, gardening, accountancy or admin tasks and treat it as an investment in your health and your life. You free up some time to do other more important things, whether they be work or fun-related and may be better equipped to do those tasks than you.
● Work on your relationships. Treat your relationships well by enjoying open and honest communications. Share conversations about your lives rather than just daily updates about what you want to eat or what you need from the supermarket. Why not prepare your evening meal and whilst it’s cooking, enjoy a walk together or a family game? That way you share fun time, talk and maybe some exercise. A little planning can help manage stress and enhance the quality of your personal life.
● Have some quality ‘me’ time. It can be all too easy to forget about ourselves, the things that matter to us, that we want to do in the midst of a busy, demanding life. But scheduling valuable time for yourself to go to the gym, spend in the garden, enjoy an important hobby or interest can make all the difference to your health, mindset and quality of life.
● Treat sleep as important. Wind down before bed for an hour or so. Turn off your work phone, relax, maybe take a bath and ensure your bedroom is cosy and welcoming. Screen off any work-related area and avoid the temptation to check in one final time. If you’re especially busy, try to go to bed a little earlier and give yourself some quiet time.
Whether you choose to spend your off-duty time alone or with others, it’s important to reinforce the message that you need to take care of yourself and manage stress well.
Personal time is a valid and positive way to help you support your health and wellbeing.
Article By Susan Leigh
Susan Leigh, counsellor, hypnotherapist, relationship counsellor, writer & media contributor, has published her third book, 101 Days of Inspiration #tipoftheday (ISBN 9781910275160) based on her social media series. A glossy, pocket-sized book, it's full of inspirational quotes & pictures, a treat to give or simply keep for yourself.
