“Adapting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.” Hans Selye

 

Do you ever try to identify the sources of stress in your life? Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses. Ask yourself :

1. What caused your stress
2. How you felt, both physically and emotionally.
3. How you acted in response.
4. What you did to make yourself feel better.

 

Here some strategies to adapt to a common stressful situation :

 

1. Avoid Unnecessary Event                                             Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.

 

•  Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them.
• Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.
• Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off.
• Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list.
• Pare down your to-do list – Analyse your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks.

 

 

2. Alter the Situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in the future.

• Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely remain the same.
• Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behaviour, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.
• Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head-on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them.
• Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress.

 

 

3. Think Big

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. Try to think big, start with small steps.

• Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective.
• Look at the big picture. Ask yourself, Will this matter in a year or in five years? The answer is often no. Realising this makes a stressful situation seem less overwhelming.
• 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.

 

 

 4. Accept the things you can’t change

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are.

• Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control— particularly the behaviour of other people.
• Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth.
• Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist.
• Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.

 

 

5. Make time for Fun and Relaxation

Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. “Nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.”

• Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
• Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
• Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy.
• Keep your sense of humour. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

 

 

6. Adopt a healthy lifestyle

You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health.

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress.
• Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat.
• Reduce caffeine and sugar. Caffeine and sugar provide often end in a crash in mood and energy. So, don’t take too much caffeine and sugar.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary.
• Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body.

 

Soon, you will be able to pull out just the tool that will keep you hiking through life at a steady clip.

Keep in mind that, You have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realisation that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of adapting common stressful situation.