How to Deal With Stress

Learning how to deal with stress is an important skill, but not one with which everyone feels competent. Especially in the heat of the moment!

If effectively coping with stress is an obstacle in your life, I want you to know that there are ways for you to get back in charge!

If you're interested in building your resiliency to stress, check out my book on Amazon, The How to Deal with Stress Handbook.

It addresses the three biggest causes of stress and provides 50 deep, relaxing, and uplifting affirmations for relieving stress.

You can control what stresses you and learn how to deal with stress.

It certainly is not an easy task...some people lead stress-filled lives for many years. Most of us, though, are just trying to manage the regular stressors that pop up every now and then.

No matter how often stress enters your life, learning how to deal with stress is an essential skill for living a full and healthy life.

The first step here is to identify what your stressors are, why they are stressful to you, and why you are in those situations. Are you able to control your stressors or are some of them out of your hands?

For example, almost every morning you find yourself running late to work. And you have the kind of boss who is peering out his window, taking notes of who arrives when. You’re a hard and diligent worker and it pains you to think that your boss may have a different opinion of your capabilities and dedication because of your arrival time. (Not to mention how that perception may affect any promotion opportunities.) You start off the day feeling exasperated, anxious, and rushed.

What’s making your mornings start off this way? Is it that your kids are slow to get themselves ready? Does your family wake up late? Are you disorganized in the morning? Is traffic always backed up? Whatever it is, clearly you and your family need to make some changes to your morning routine to help you get to work on time.

First of all, make sure your body is operating at its best. This means you are:

• getting plenty of sleep

• eating healthily

• exercising

The next step is to PLAN -- Predict Life's Alternatives Now. Figure out how you're going to reduce your stress ahead of time. When you’re learning how to deal with stress, it’s important to be as proactive and prepared as possible. When you’ve spent some time getting ready for a potentially stressful situation, you’re in a much better position to cope with stress more effectively.

Using the example above, what do you need to do to ensure you arrive at work on time each morning? Maybe earlier bedtimes for everyone or lunches made the night before will smooth your ability to get out the door at the right time. Assessing the situation and then making appropriate changes can decrease your stress.

But what to do when your planning goes out the window? When you're in the car and the traffic is at a standstill? When a child is sick and you have to arrange for unexpected child-care? When you feel the physical effects of stress start to overwhelm you?

How do you deal with stress when you are in a situation that you cannot control? The best way to cope with stress during these times is to allow yourself to accept that fact. The reality is that we don’t have control over everything that impacts our lives. You will find some real relief in allowing yourself to accept that you have done all you can do and that the outcome of the situation is just not going to be as you would wish. It can take some practice, but when you’re able to “let go” of a situation that’s out of your control you’ll appreciate the peace that comes with that relinquishing.

When you’re learning how to deal with stress, you might look into ways to increase the amount of peace and relaxation in your life. People who practice Yoga, journaling, or meditation often find that they’re able to counteract stressors with purposeful relaxation and reflection. These help focus the mind inward and shut out the noise of the day. It is also a nice way to work some quiet alone time into your day!

If you’re not coping with stress effectively, it can be debilitating and wreak havoc on your relationships and personal well being.

The good news is that you don't have to be suffocated by stress. You have much more control over what stresses you and how to deal with stress than you may realize.

A life coach can help you identify your sources of stress, help you create a plan to reduce them, and help you implement your stress management techniques. Over time you may realize that how you deal with stress has become one of your biggest strengths!

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