If you're looking for an easy way to manage stress in your life
or business, this article can help you solve the problem. Here
are five efficient tips for instant stress relief:
Step 1 - Identify Stress Triggers.
Are there particular situations or people that stress you out? Is
your boss giving you a hard time? Is it a pain to arrange a
vacation, booking flights, hotels and arranging for watering the
plants or feeding the cat in your absence? Then start by
recognizing such "pitfalls" so you can handle them constructively
when they show up. For instance, if you are planning a vacation,
start in good time and take one step at a time.
Step 2 - Breathe.
When people are stressed or nervous they usually tend to breathe
fast and shallow. In worst case scenarios, like anxiety attacks,
you would gasp for air and have problems breathing. When you are
stressing in your mind, your body is stressing as well. Muscles
have to work harder, blood pumps faster, you get tense and so on.
The whole process makes it very hard to think clearly. So, take
several deep breaths whenever you are stressed. Allow air to pass
through your body. It will help you relax.
Step 3 - Don't Worry.
Have you noticed that a lot of stressed people worry a great
deal? For instance, they worry that things won't work out, there
won't be enough time or money and so on. Well, believe it or not,
but worrying won't get you anywhere. It will actually do quite
the opposite – drag you down and stress you out even more. So,
whenever you catch yourself worrying, think instead; "This won't
contribute to the situation in any positive way. I'll stop
worrying NOW."
Step 4 - Think Positively.
Instead of worrying, it might be a good idea to replace those
thoughts with something pleasant instead. If anything, it will
get your mood up and put a smile on your face. Do you worry that
your car might break down? Think instead that if it breaks down
you'll no longer contribute to the global warming effect. Think
that you might even get a bit healthier and see the clear blue
sky since you'll be walking or biking to work. In any case, just
focus on the positive, and your stress will wash away.
Step 5 - Change Your Response.
Once you have identified a stressful situation and recognize the
pattern, state to yourself that you are stressed. At this point
you are able to decide whether you want to continue on a runaway
stress train and get trapped in a negative loop - OR if you want
to do something different with this situation. Such decision
making creates a feeling of control. At any point you can tell
yourself; "Hey, I won't go down the stress path today. Instead
I'll do something different." Hopefully something constructive.
Use your imagination!
That's really all there is to it. The next time you feel
stressed, just go through these five steps in your mind, and your
situation and mood will improve dramatically. Try it!
Natasha Misharina is the author of "The Ultimate Stress
Management Guide". Want to get rid of negative stress for good?
Get her book at http://NeverStress.com and get a package worth
$335.65 free of charge. You can also sign up for her free
newsletter (worth $29.95) at: http://NeverStress.com/free.html
