Monday, January 21, 2013

Manage Stress With Effective Stress Management Techniques

By Ewald Moors


Stress is a feeling of emotional and physical tension. It can cause severe health problems and in extreme cases can cause death. If you are a learner, you have probably noticed that you are experiencing stress from many different areas. Worries about finance, relationships and academic performance can all have an impact on your mental and physical health.

Seeing things through from start to finish is important, as it can be tempting to start one piece of work, then another and have several projects on the go at once. This can apply equally at home or at work; starting to clean a room, then doing a little ironing, then the garden can result in nothing being finished and leave a dissatisfied feeling at the end of the day. If a work task has to be left part way through make sure that you make clear notes so that it can be resumed efficiently once you return.

Delegate. Let others help and they will take pride in the responsibility, become more proficient and experienced and may even be in a position to offer useful ideas and suggestions. It can take a little time and patience to teach someone new skills, but in the long term it usually pays off.Say 'no' sometimes. This is a useful way to manage stress for several reasons. It makes other people appreciate that you're busy, gives you a reminder that you have some control over the way you allocate your time and allows you to focus on doing what you're already doing with a clear, calm mind.

Take regular breaks. Stopping for food, drink, exercise, fun improves your quality of concentration and is an important stress management technique. Eating healthy food away from the work station, having a brisk ten minute walk, a little 'me' time all ensure that your quality of concentration and focus improve on your return. Intensive periods of study, urgent deadlines often benefit from taking a break to allow the thoughts to clean and settle for a while. No one can work flat-out 100% of the time and often people find that new ideas and insights have surfaced during their time away from their desk.

Focus on priorities: Write down your priorities and celebrate when you reach each one. It is one of the best tools to achieve the desired goals.Do something you enjoy everyday: Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be playing the piano or working on your bike.Keep your sense of humor: This includes the ability to laugh at yourself.Exercise regularly: Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise.Eat a healthy diet: Well nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat.Reduce sugar: Sugar provides a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks chocolate and sugar snacks in your diet, you will feel more relaxed and better.Avoid drugs: Avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Self medication with alcohol and drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Do not mask the issue at hand; deal with problems with a clear mind.

The focus that you give the project helps to slow and relax your mind. When you are highly stressed it is likely that your mind works in high gear. This is a normal part of processing tension. The overall effect that slowing the mind down can usually be felt through the whole body. You can not concentrate on something pleasant while concentrating on being worked up.

Try it right now:Relax your body and free yourself of any signs of tension. Allow your tongue and jaws to relax. Drop your shoulders away from your ears. Let your abdomen relax and become softer, freeing yourself of all tension from that part of your body. Become aware of your breathing just as it is. Inhale and take in a deep, full breath.Allow the breath to flow all the way down into the lower belly. You can imagine that there is a small balloon in the belly. As you breathe in, allow that balloon to smoothly inflate. As you breathe out, feel how the balloon easily collapses. Take in several of these measured, gentle, deep breaths.

Stress has become a part of our lives and it is practically impossible to eradicate all stresses completely as they recur time and again with growing responsibilities. However, stress management techniques are effective methods to control stress and resist its influence on our lives. Frequent headaches, exhaustions, mood swings, sleeplessness etc. are some of the symptoms of stress. If you feel that you are undergoing a stressful life, spend some time with yourself to diagnose the real reasons behind your stress levels. You can take a break from your hectic life style to find yourself relieved from stress. Stress management is all about taking complete control of your schedule, emotions and thoughts and the way you tackle problems.

Programs on stress management techniques are offered by professionals. These programs are ideal options to deal with your stress levels. In addition, regular exercises, yoga, healthy diet, assertive attitude, focus on priorities, better time management etc can also work wonders in flushing out stress from various stages of your life. You need to understand your stresses and deal with them head on. You should try your best to anticipate and prevent problems as much as possible. A positive attitude towards life and spending quality time with family members can also be efficient stress busters.Stress differs from person to person and hence you need to experiment what can really work for you. A healthy and positive way to deal your stress can enhance your overall well being. The way you feel and deal any stressful situation in life is your choice. Counselors can only guide you through stress management techniques. They suggest measures to explore positive aspects of life and in confronting situations that arise. Stress management lessons are all about learning when and how to take control.

You can spend leisure hours listening good music or enjoy your hobbies that allow you to counter long term stress and its ill effects. Hobbies help you to refocus and take time for yourself, giving you the chance to fix the stress toll on your mind and body. Whether you are married or single, a student or working, at home or work, stress challenges might appear irrespective of time or occasion. A little stress can keep you motivated and focused but when the level increases, it can turn your life into hell. During tough times when you are unable to maintain balance between work and family, inevitable stress might turn out to be real headache. Effective solutions and strategies can help you discover a new you in you. So control stress before it controls you!




About the Author:



No comments: