Share concerns with others and talk about what cannot be eliminated or reduced. Just be heard can help deal with a stressful situaiton.
Currently I schedule time each day to workout at the YMCA. This helps reduce my stress level and allows me the time to talk to friends. I feel that I have healthy coping skills based on the information in this module. In the future, I will try to get enough sleep.
Excellent Kathleen, Yes you are ultimately the priority. So do take the time you need for yourself.
Getting alternative perspectives from friends and family can indeed provide peace of mind Vanessa.
I usually talk them through and this helps me see things from a different perspective and often it also gives me a peace of mind just to take things through. I also try to find ways to relax. In the future I will seek out activities such as exercising and getting more sleep, so that I will be fresh and have mental clarity when dealing with such challenges.
Good point Wendy. The experience of stress isn't always helpful. Sometimes writing things down does put things into perspective.
Exercise and meditation are both indeed great stress reducers Islam. Sounds like you have developed some healthy habits.
Based on what I have learned in this module, I will fit in time to de-stress, even if it is only 10 minutes. I really enjoy exercise and meditation. I have been very busy lately and I have not been making the time for these activities. I realize that I need to make these healthy coping mechanisms a priority and I don't have to have a lengthy amount of time to keep them a part of my life.
Exercise and meditation.
Exercise as simple as taking a walk can reduce stress. Meditation can help in breathing and getting enough oxygen for proper blood flow can used as coping with stress.
I find meditation is a great way for reflection.
I have given myself a bedtime. :) It sounds so pre-school, I know, but I have had to force myself to go to bed at a reasonable hour. I used to stay up late finishing tasks, and then I would be tired the next day and my productivity would be down. It sounds counter-intuitive to say that you are going to "put off until tomorrow" some work that you know needs doing, but I have actually found that I look forward to "bed time' and when I get up the next morning I have energy to begin my tasks and get them done speedily.
That sounds like a great idea Jessica. And no need to stress yourself out by cooking, friends always seem to enjoy pizza.
Indeed! Just putting thoughts on paper - to read later - can be a great stress reducer. This method can also help us organize our feelings and make plans to address specific stressors in the future.
I will stop and at least mentally list the stressors and consider how to handle them. Sometimes common sense ideas such as listing and journaling do not occur to us under stress.
Writing is an awesome way to deal with stress. I am a writer by trade and I find that venting on paper is a great catharsis.
It doesn't need to be fancy or well written, but sometimes just getting it down makes you feel better!
I like that you focus on having "me" time. I need to do this more often, just disappear for a few hours and have some "me" time.
I naturally stretch when under pressure, just for a few minutes. So, I guess I am already using this strategy.
I think that having dinner with friends and talking about things would be helpful to me. I have many close friends that I would trust to listen to me.
I find that I think about my stressors too often while attempting to reduce or eliminate them. I typically try to find time to do something for myself each day. When I do this, it helps me refocus my efforts.
I like the breathing exercises in the module. I have tried these and they seem to work well.
Indeed. Once you make a list, you can start to more accurately assess your situation. It can also feel nice to have everything on paper and under control.
Completely a stress reduction list would be a good first step. I don't think I have much to eliminate, but I could benefit from assessing my situation and see if I am actually creating more stress for myself than is actually necessary.
