Some folks are “stress resistant,” but at one time or another everyone will encounter a stressful situation. So, how do you bust stress before it busts on you? The options are limitless, and you probably already know them, but we sometimes need a gentle reminder of how to slow down and breathe when we are in the middle of a stressful situation. So consider this a back-to-basics on what to do the next time you are hoping to survive a stressor!
- Think and Plan Ahead—What can you do today that will reduce your stress tomorrow? Organize your life by taking 10 minutes today to prepare for something that might cost you an hour of time tomorrow. Plan your week’s schedule in advance. Pick out your clothes the night before. Work 20 minutes on an assignment each day for a week, rather than three hours in one day.
- Assess the Situation—What and who causes you stress? If you can’t turn the situation or relationship into a positive experience, then commit to avoiding it and/or changing your attitude toward that person or situation.
- Develop a Strong Support System—It’s easier to be less stressed if you surround yourself with supportive, positive people. Which friends and family members serve this purpose for you? And how can you return the favor?
- Just Say “No”—Student leaders are infamous for saying “yes” 10 times more often than they say “no.” It is okay to agree to help out or contribute to something, but only if you can fit it into your overall schedule.
- Steer Clear of Negative Talk—While it’s easy to complain and dwell in negativity sometimes, it doesn’t do a whole lot of good. So, steer clear of those who want to engage in “complaint fests” and be the most positive person you can be.
- Laugh Regularly—Finding humor in everyday situations and taking every chance to laugh can do you an endless amount of good! They don’t call laughter “internal jogging” for nothing. And your perspective is clearer and calmer when you’re viewing some things through a filter of humor.
- Use Nature as a Natural Stress Reliever— Take a stroll outside. Leave the library and do homework on a bench outdoors. Have a walking meeting. Just being outdoors will lower your stress and give you a new view on life.
- Exercise and Eat Well—It may not be easy, but how your treat your body will reflect on how it responds when things aren’t going well. Exercise regularly, choose a healthy diet and get enough sleep. If you do these things your body will cope with stress much more effectively.
- Don’t Try to Control the Uncontrollable— Things we have no control over sometimes cause stress. So practice accepting some things as they are and moving on. Analyzing how or why something happened, that you couldn’t and still can’t change, can only increase your stress levels
Want to Stay Stressed?
- Eat anything you want
- Never exercise
- Personalize all criticism
- Break off all friendships
- View everything as extreme
- Make more promises than you can keep
- Never ask for help
- Forget your sense of humor
- Become a workaholic
- Discard all time management skills
- Get very little sleep
- Break all boundaries
- Procrastinate
- Worry about things you can’t change
- Set impossible standards
- View all challenges as problems
- Never take time off
Copyright 2010. Prepared for our institution by PaperClip Communications. www.paper-clip.com