Do you ever feel like you’re a stress magnet?
Tension, pressure, and anxiety seem to be common and recurring experiences for most of us. While you cannot avoid all sources of stress, you can intentionally employ healthy responses to address and defuse your stress.
Here are three ideas for today:
1. Take a break to breathe. Remove yourself from the situation or from the emotional flooding you are experiencing, and breathe. Take 3-5 minutes and breathe in your nose, and out through your mouth. Intentionally release the physical tension you are holding in your muscles, and attempt to release the concerns from your mind. Breathe. Take 20-30 minutes if you can. Then, return with renewed energy and perspective.
2. Move. No, not states! Though, I suspect some of us have tried this approach and sometimes it helps! Move your body. Go for a walk, stretch, do strength exercises, ride a bike, get on that cardio machine. Move. Your body and mind will thank you.
3. Interrogate Yourself. I haven’t really seen this one on other lists, but it helps me. Of course, it may mean I’m crazy! Still, I suggest that you try it. Ask yourself the seven “W” and “H” questions as it applies to what you are experiencing. This exercise demands that you emerge from emotional overload and become objective.
Who? (Who is stressing me out? Who can fix this? Me?)
What? (What am I so angry about? What are the real dynamics here?)
When? (When will I address this? When do I think I will get over this?)
Where? (Where can I go to breathe? Where would I rather be?)
How? (How is the best way to respond? How will I choose to respond?)
Why? (Why am I so stressed? Why would I allow such influence over me?)
How much/How long? (How much longer will I think about this? How long do I need to wait before I reply?)
Worth Repeating
It’s not stress that kills us, it’s our reaction to it.
–Hans Selye
