Tips and techniques for Coping with Stress

Posted: Aug 12, 2014

Stress affects all of us at some time or another and everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress. Gathered from a number of experts in the field of stress management the following are 10 things you can do to reduce your levels of stress and start taking back control of your life.

1 Accept the stress

Denial of stress is easily done but unfortunately only worsens the effects of it. The first thing you need to do is be honest with yourself and acknowledging that you are in a situation that needs to change.

2 Find the root cause or causes of the stress

This is not necessarily as easy as it sounds but it's very important to get to the heart of the matter fairly quickly. You may find that spending some time contemplating your feelings will help you understand the sources of you stress. You might also find that talking it through with a trusted confidante or a life coach will help you gain clarity and understanding.

3 Identify what has to happen in order to change the cause of the stress

It is important to focus on changing the underlying causes and not just on reducing the symptoms. If the stress is work-related then changing the cause might, for example, include looking for a more suitable job. Or perhaps arranging for some of your work load to be delegated to others. It could also include improving organisational skills so that thing don't get so out of control in the future.

4 Focus on the solution not the problem

Instead of dwelling on the problem, you need to ask yourself how you would ideally be feeling or what your ideal desired outcome is. People often get so bogged down by the problem itself they forget the end result they want to achieve and are unable to consider any alternative solutions.

5 Put an action plan in place

Without actions you are placing your destiny in the hands of others. Blaming others for the situation is also futile. To reduce stress, you need to take responsibility for making the situation different. You will be surprised how much better you will feel by simply knowing that you are taking steps to alleviate the problem, no matter how small they might seem. Moving forward, even slowly, will help you feel empowered and in control.

6 Don't take on too much

If you are feeling stressed, don't overwhelm yourself by taking on extra duties that aren't strictly necessary or important. Sometimes saying "No" is essential to reduce stress and you need to be able to do this without feeling guilty. You also need to be willing and able to ask others for help if you need it.

7 Prioritise.

Sort out your priorities and put your efforts into the most important things. Even if you feel stressed you can't avoid all the responsibilities and obligations that you have but if you prioritising carefully you can tackle each obligation in your own time and way. Doing this will also help you feel more in control.

8 Exercise

When people are stressed they tend to overlook their hobbies, friends and interests but spending time with family and friends is often the best tonic for stress. Exercise will also help you combat stress by releasing endorphins that will give you a natural high which can help replace feelings of tension with optimism and calm.

9 Focus on the positive

Count your blessings every day. At the end of every working day reflect on the good things that happened and write them down. At the end of each month, read the list for that month and very soon you will realise that life is actually far better than you thought.

10 Work with a personal life coach or mentor

"A trouble shared is a trouble halved" and many people find that working with a supportive personal life coach helps bring a new perspective to the causes of their stress and a whole new dimension to their lives.