Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension that can arise from any event or thought that makes a person feel frustrated, angry, or nervous.
There is a myriad of things we do in a day, and any one of them could, for one reason or another, be stressful for us. You will come across two types: acute stress and chronic stress. You have acute stress while your stress only lasts for a short period of time. Not really harmful, it’s a bit like a reflex. This is the type of stress you get when fighting with your partner, or when facing something new and / or exciting, for example. Chronic stress, on the other hand, lasts much longer. It may be due to recurring issues or a situation that you have been going through for a long time. Or what you don’t think you have in the capacity to solve. As this can cause long-term health problems, it is recommended that you deal with it or seek help as soon as possible. But there are several effective ways to reduce stress.
Before you can fight your stress, you need to know that you are affected. Symptoms of stress can be physical or emotional and can vary from person to person. Sometimes you don’t realize that these symptoms are caused by stress, as most of these signs can be mistaken for symptoms of illness. The two signs of stress that you can easily forget are: diarrhea or constipation, upset stomach. The two most common or known are headaches and sleeping problems (a little too much or too little).
One of the primary causes of stress is poor time management. We all know how difficult it is to get the work-life balance we need, and sometimes things can get out of hand. Here are some tips to stay in control and reduce the risk of stress:
- Prepare for the morning the night before.
- Avoid being late, get up fifteen minutes early.
- Schedule your appointments ahead of time.
- Don’t rely on memory alone, use a planner or reminders to stick to your schedule.
- Be prepared to wait, allow extra time.
- Prepare for the rain (real or figurative sense), make contingency plans.
Once you’ve learned how to manage your time better, there’s less chance you’ll find yourself facing stress. But what if life gives you something you can’t control? Well, you can control what you do next. There are 3 case scenarios:
Case scenario 1: Your stress is caused by physical tension and over-thinking, just take a break!
- Say “no” more often and avoid unnecessary sacrifices.
- Declutter your life, you have to breathe.
- Take time, take a break away from children, for example.
- Establish your own place of serenity. Treat yourself: take leisure baths, get a massage.
Case scenario 2: Your stress is caused by emotional tension and / or self-questioning. Glorify and love yourself!
- Watch your self-talk, be your own salesperson.
- Identify the gifts / talents that you have and that you share with others.
- Count your blessings. You are alive, some people cannot say the same.
- Remember: the world is lucky to have you one more day.
Case scenario 3: You have done everything mentioned above but it seems to get worse. Then, get some help!
- Free yourself, talk to a loving and caring friend or family member.
- Ask questions and get professional help.
- Prayer is a healer, make it part of your daily life; that is if you are a believer.
Sometimes we forget to just enjoy what we have and be happy. It can be difficult at times, but it helps to:
- Find fun ways to do repetitive or boring tasks.
- Find humor in difficult situations.
While stress can prove to be beneficial, it can also, very quickly, become a drag on our well-being. So remember to follow these instructions whenever you are having difficulty and feeling stressed, and then tell yourself this: “All is well in the best of all possible worlds”_ Voltaire. Because the secret is that you attract whatever you think about the most. So think positive!
