How to manage stress?

Identify your stressors

Do you know what causes you stress? Could it be a busy schedule, a particular person, or your job? Whatever the cause, the first step is to identify the stressor. Once you have identified it, you can begin to work toward managing your stress. Think about some actions you can take. Can you remove it, delegate it, or manage it? Working through this process can give you control over your stress.

Maintain organisation 

You're in a rush to get out the door in the morning. You scoff down some breakfast, get the kids ready and go to rush out the door. Only problem is you can’t find your car keys. Sound familiar? A lack of organisation can cause unnecessary stress in an already busy schedule. If you can keep your house, office, digital space and even your car organised, it will help reduce stress. Plan ahead the night before to help the morning run smoothly. Planning ahead and having a good schedule is key to staying organized and reducing stress.

Balance

All work and no play is a recipe for stress and burnout. So too, partying all night and sacrificing sleep. If you imagine your life like a wheel and the wheel is divided up into the different components of your life. If one or more of those components are out of balance it will throw off the ability of the wheel to spin. Maintaining balance in all areas of your life will help to manage stress. It will also improve the quality of your life. 

Look after your health

It's important to look after our health at all times, but especially so when we are under a significant amount of stress. When you've got a long and stressful project going on at work, it can be tempting to over consume caffeine and sugary foods. Even to skip your regular workouts. This is actually adding to your stress. A healthy diet and exercise are proven to decrease stress and improve our mood. So when you are feeling stressed, reach for a healthy snack and get some exercise. It will go a long way to helping combat stress. 

Set priorities 

Our lives are busier than ever. We all have many plates that we are juggling and it can seem difficult to know what to focus on. Only you can decide what you want to make a priority in your life. Deciding on the big, non negotiable priorities is the first step. Then if you have time and energy left over after that, you can fill in smaller non priority tasks and activities around that. It's the old big rocks and sand in the bucket strategy. Putting the big rocks in first, allows you to fit other things around it. 

Find relaxing hobbies

We all need some down time to decompress and feel refreshed. What do you like to do for fun? Life isn't just about doing things that will help you to be successful. We need to have hobbies that are good for our souls. Whether it is drawing, painting, hiking or playing board games. FInd something that helps you to destress and feel ready to tackle the challenges that come your way. Schedule time in your diary to enjoy your hobbies.

Get support 

Ongoing stress can be damaging to your health. If you find that applying these techniques is difficult for you, get some support. A coach can help you to apply these strategies by setting up a schedule and sticking to it. Additionally, you may want to check in with your healthcare provider to ensure there aren't any underlying conditions that need to be treated.