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Cutting through Stress

Guest post by: Cheryl Hitchcock

Article Overview: Stress is something that comes with everyday life. It’s not something that we can eliminate completely or need to avoid at all costs, but there are ways to manage stress so that it doesn’t consume you.

Cutting through Stress

Stress is something that comes with everyday life. It’s not something that we can eliminate completely or need to avoid at all costs, but there are ways to manage stress so that it doesn’t consume you. Holidays/vacations, social, family and work demands are always present and even though these are generally viewed a part of everyday life, we also know that these demands can also cause significant stress and even chaos. I am going to share with you some tips that can help you cope with stress and gain back your control.

Stress when left out of control can cause significant anxiety or depression, as well as physical illness, so you need to look at ways of managing the stress you feel on a daily basis. Of course I will assert that meditation does significantly reduce stress and the detrimental effects on your mind and body. It is proven scientifically that even small amounts of meditation daily can cut down on the negative effects of stress. Not only will meditation help you to cope better and stay grounded, it will help you view the world in a more positive, kind and loving way.

When something comes up for you that creates stress, stop and ask yourself if there is anything you can do about the situation. Can you manage or change the stressor? If there is nothing that you can do to change the source of your stress, then you can choose to view it in a different manner. If you find that you cannot keep up with bill payments for example, you can assess the situation and ask yourself, “Is there anything that I can do to lessen the stress?” Can you allocate money to where it is needed most, or find ways to earn or free up more money? Can you borrow against any equity you have or sell off, or refinance any assets? If there is nothing that you can do then you need to resign yourself to that fact and not worry about it. Either you can pay the bills or you cannot, and worrying about paying the bills is not going to change the fact that you are having difficulty paying the bills. There are always options. Worrying about anything only increases stress and can lead to anxiety, depression or physical illness, as well as preventing you from finding options and taking action.

Try to look at the cause of your stress objectively, that is to say, without your personal beliefs, perceptions, and emotions attached. Break it down into smaller more manageable parts and set out a plan to deal with each part. Ask yourself, “Is getting upset going to reduce my stress level?” Unfortunately, we tend to go to the worst case scenario when looking at stressful events that come up. The majority of the time (over 95%) the worst case scenario does not occur and we will have created even more stress than the original stressor does.

Make a plan for the stress that you can manage and don’t worry about what you cannot control. If stress does become overwhelming to you and you cannot seem to find options, then I urge you to speak to a professional and seek guidance. That’s what we are here for. Don’t feel like you have to tackle everything on your own. It is often helpful just to speak with someone about how you are feeling or what is going on with you. Sharing some of your stressors with someone you trust may aid in brainstorming options that you may not have thought about previously.

You need to take care of your mental health because your mind is what drives everything you do and if it breaks down, every aspect of your life will be affected. There is no stressful situation that cannot be managed. It’s up to you to take the lead in your life. Life is wonderful, live it to the fullest, and remember to keep your face to the sunshine!

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Article Tags: everyday life, ways to manage stress
Referred by: http://www.vbsondemand.com/



Related Forum Posts
Re: Infographic: The 4 Main Stress Factors - I'd like to reference that article in my next blog post as well.. I worked in sales for years and found that days when I was positive, relaxed where days that it was easy to sell. On days that I was stressed I found I would not reach target. Stress is good at times, but it very easily becomes problematic. I do a lot of very physical exercise and work now, to manage it.
Why Should I Make a Budget? - You say you know where your money goes and you don’t need it all written down to keep up with it? I issue you this challenge. Keep track of every penny you spend for one month and I do mean every penny. You will be shocked at what the itty-bitty expenses add up to. Take the total you spent on just one unnecessary item for the month, multiply it by 12 for months in a year and multiply the result by 5 to represent 5 years. That is how much you could have saved AND drawn interest on in just five years. That, my friend, is the very reason all of us need a budget. If we can get control of the small expenses that really don’t matter to the overall scheme of our lives, we can enjoy financial success. The little things really do count. Cutting what you spend on lunch from five dollars a day to three dollars a day on every work day in a five day work week saves $10 a week… $40 a month… $480 a year… $2400 in five years….plus interest. See what I mean… it really IS the little things and you still eat lunch everyday AND that was only one place to save money in your daily living without doing without one thing you really need. There are a lot of places to cut expenses if you look for them. Set some specific long term and short term goals. There are no wrong answers here. If it’s important to you, then it’s important period. If you want to be able to make a down payment on a house, start a college fund for your kids, buy a sports car, take a vacation to Aruba… anything… then that is your goal and your reason to get a handle on your financial situation now.


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