DIY Stress Management

Do you find yourself feeling overworked professionally or overwhelmed personally? These types of feelings can be indicative that your needs, desires, and interests have evolved. It can be challenging to deal with life’s difficulties without an effective approach when our established coping methods and problem solving skills are no longer effective. The inability to cope the demands of life can lead to feelings of frustration, stress, helpless, etc.

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We experience negative emotions when we have lost control of a situation, or sometimes our lives. Control can only be regained when we choose to see the problem as an opportunity to explore the possibilities of new solutions.

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Finding new ways to solve problems can be empowering, and thus life changing. Just as with physical health, we are responsible for maintaining our emotional health. Feeling good emotionally often leads to better personal and professional relationships.

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Below are some tips you can use to explore ways to manage stress. These simple strategies can help you find a new perspective and ease stress:

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• Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.
• Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.
• Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”
• Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts.

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Note to Self:

How you think can have a profound effect on your emotional and physical well-being. Each time you think a negative thought about yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a tension-filled situation. If you see good things about yourself, you are more likely to feel good; the reverse is also true. Eliminate words such as “always,” “never,” “should,” and “must.” These are telltale marks of self-defeating thoughts.

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Source: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm

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Need more help? Do not hesitate to seek professional help from an Austin mental health practitioner or life coach to get assistance finding effective solutions.