Stress. A word we all avoid and yet know too well. It seems to be part of our daily routine, always showing up with the worst of timing, causing feelings of discomfort and sabotaging any possibility of feeling good about the tasks at hand. Ugh.
So, what are some quick solutions to avoiding stress?
1. DON’T AVOID IT. (Yes, I said it…I’ll say it again.) Truly, don’t avoid it. Whatever you resist, persists (Carl Jung figured that one out). Your stress is actually trying to tell you something. Perhaps you need a break. Perhaps you’re forgetting to breathe. Perhaps there is something more important that you need to be thinking about. The point is, instead of avoiding the stressful moment, ACKNOWLEDGE IT. Have a quick heart-to-heart with yourself, and say “Hey Stress! I acknowledge that you’re here and that you have something to tell me. I’d appreciate it if you could send the memo to me in a different format next time. Thanks!”
2. Take a Breather Break. Forgot how to breathe or could use a quick refresher? Download the app Headspace for just that purpose. Whether you have one minute or 20, you get the chance to reset your stress to zero by just taking a few deep breaths. Brilliant things happen in calm minds, and sometimes we just need those few moments to center back into that inner feeling of calm.
3. MOVE. Change your position. If you’re sitting, get up and stretch. If you’ve been staring at your computer screen too long, go stare at your coworker who’s been staring to long at THEIR computer screen and recognize you BOTH need a break! Movement is KEY. Moving your body helps shift your brain to focus on something else- giving you a mental break that is much needed.
4. Get out of your head. Stress originates from what we think to be true, but that does not necessarily mean that it is. For example, think of when two people have an argument. There is person A’s point of view, Person B’s point of view, and what actually happened, meaning there are THREE different realities that exist. So let’s consider the idea that stress is formed as an idea in your head BUT it may not be the full picture of truth. If that’s the case, perhaps we can loosen the hold that stress has on us in a particular situation and allow ourselves to get curious about what pieces of truth or reality we are missing in order to solve our stress puzzle.
5. Let go of finding a solution. Some very wise and experienced coaches once told me that it’s impossible to solve your problem by being in the problem. This statement actually blew me away. It’s so simple, yet so true! If we keep searching for ways to de-stress ourselves while we are in a state of stress, we will continue to stress ourselves out. Let go of the pressure to solve your problems, find solutions, and fix everything. Just let…..it…..go. Instead, focus on releasing some steam, remembering how to breathe, finding your calm space, or simply moving from one spot to another. Now you are in a completely different head space than you were a few moments ago, giving you the ability to refocus and start finding solutions that will actually make a difference.
Alright, now that you have five fresh ideas to add to your “Stress Less Toolkit”. Stay tuned for next month, there may just be a few more to add to your kit. If you like a challenge, go forth and start putting these ideas to practice. With practice comes permanence, and that is one of the best ways to start rewiring your brain to reduce your stress level..