All of us have moments of stress. It is prevalent in all
areas of our lives. Stress can be caused by anxiety and it may also lead to it.
Stress is generally due to a perceived lack of control. It is also prevalent
when we feel we don’t have any time. One of the things I have learned is when
stress is about to show up just stop everything you are doing and really
understand what you are trying to do. Here are some musings on how we can nip
the bud of stress.
Do something physical – I have heard a lot of people say when you are stressed do some exercise. When you are under stress
it is very difficult to motivate yourself to exercise. That’s the reason you
are under stress. I would rather try to prevent stress by making physical
activity a daily habit. This way it is a habit and since it is daily your
chances of staving off stress is far easier.
Get a good night’s sleep – If you sleep through
8 hours you are generally more relaxed. So again, prevention is better than
cure. Make sure every week you are getting all the sleep you need to function
at your best. If you are feeling very stressed try to completely sleep for
eight hours that night and you will feel better the next day.
Don’t send emails when you are stressed – The
first thing to suffer when we are under stress is our thinking capacity. We
have a shorter fuse and our tendency to respond in haste is far greater. So,
keep your emails in the draft and give some space between your reaction and
response.
Step outside for a walk – One of the best ways
to beat stress is to get some fresh air. Go out for a nice 10-minute walk and
observe the environment. In general, you feel a lot calmer after that.
Take some time off – If you are going through a
significant period of stress this maybe the ideal time to take a little bit of
time off. It is time to recharge your batteries. It is probably better to
schedule this relaxation into every week so that we are recharging our
batteries on a regular basis. Sunday can be a day where you totally do your
hobbies.
Go to the movies – Watching movies does take us
out of our routine and transports us to various places. So, go to a movie and
just enjoy yourself. This surely is a stress buster. Of course, some popcorn
helps.
Write in a journal – I try to write in a journal
3-4 times a week. It has been well established that when you write things down
you feel a lot calmer. Just start writing everything that is in your mind. Mind
dump is one of the best forms of relaxation.
Confide in a good friend – Communicating with
friends is one of the best ways to be relaxed. They will be able to encourage
you when you are down better than anyone else.
Perspective – These questions which I learned
from the book Decisive is useful. Will this matter 10 minutes from now, will it
matter 10 months from now, will it matter 10 years from now. If not don’t worry
and it is better to stay away from any comparisons with others.
Read books – Everyone from Bill Gates to Elon
Musk to Jeff Bezos to Oprah Winfrey to Richard Branson to Warren Buffet talk
about the importance of reading. Despite their huge responsibilities they have
found time in their daily schedule to engage in reading. It is truly a game
changer and reduces the stress levels. It also gives you a new perspective on
life.
There you have it some ideas to prevent and beat stress.
Thanks for reading this post.