When it all gets too much…STRESS and How to Get Rid of It !
Have you been following the principle “work before pleasure” or “business before play” and wondered why you always feel stressed ? The hard scientific truth is: these principles don’t work !
Let’s first have a look what stress actually is: You feel stressed when….
… you feel helpless
… you feel driven by others
… you don’t know how long the pressure will last
… you feel you are a victim
… you feel you can’t handle it
Stress is a natural body reaction to cope with extraordinary pressures. The key is not just to know how to avoid those stressful feelings but to know how to get rid of them fast.
The more you are in control of your life and the way you spend your time, the less stressed you will feel. So stress relief is a matter of organization !
First Aid against Stress:
1. What is the source of my stress ?
Your first task is to figure out the real source for your stress. Just ask yourself what really causes you to feel pressured. The daily way to work ? The routine tasks at home ? The noise ? Your boss’s comments .. and what about them exactly ?
2. Relaxation
Breaks from your work are vital for staying balanced. This sounds simple and yet, sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. Taking a break allows you to switch off or step back so you can see the big picture again. It will put your current task in perspective and allow you to see new solutions and opportunities. At the very least it will just recharge your batteries for you to keep going.
3. Sport
Find a sport or a form of movement that you enjoy. Enjoyment is key here. The impact of sport on eliminating stress hormones is well documented. And regular activity is also proven to prevent stress from building up in the first place.
4. Say “No”
Many people say “yes” to often when they wish they had said “no”. As a result we pile up to many tasks and finally feel we can’t cope anymore: stress emerges. So why do we say “yes” when we mean “no” ? Most people think that “yes” makes them look competent, strong and helpful and that saying “no” is a sign of weakness. Yet, the opposite is true. Saying “no” is a sign of strength. It takes courage to say “no” to a friend or a boss and it shows that you value your own goals, family and friends.
Quick – Fix for Any Stress Situation
Often stress is a matter of perspective. Ask yourself the following questions to find new perspectives that will immediately relieve your stressful feelings:
- Is my life in danger ? Yes: Act quickly ! No: Relax, it’s not all that bad.
- Is the life of someone I love in danger ? Yes: Act quickly ! No: Relax again.
- If I had only 3 more months to live, would I get annoyed now ?
- If I explained my situation to a 4 year-old child, would it understand what I find stressful ?
- Could I imagine that I’d laugh about my current situation in 5 years ? Or in 5 months ? If so, why not laugh about it in 5 minutes ?
Your Perfect Summer Holiday in the Bavarian Alps
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