When we learn how to control stress, we will automatically feel better about what we deal with and will have better lives.
These are my tips for controlling stress:
- Learn to cultivate and learn to accept patience as part of the bigger picture and put that into perspective, so you always have control;
- Focus on what you're trying to do in the present moment, so that your mind isn’t shifting back and forth;
- Deal with your baggage because baggage interferes with everyday life;
- Spend time around like-minded individuals who bring the best out of you;
- Find time in your day for quiet contemplation;
- Be reasonable about the things you can get done and be okay with the things you can't. Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was your ability to finish everything in one day;
- Avoid people who won't or can't handle their own stress, because their stress will eventually become yours;
- Stop multitasking because that adds to stress and instead set out your priorities in order of importance, so that your priorities are completed first;
- Take responsibility and own what belongs to you;
- Take control of the things you have control over, even if you're not sure how and don't put those things off;
Finally, if something seems out of your control and it's not something you can control, it’s not something you need to deal with or worry about, so let it go.
It took me a very long time to realize that there are ways to control the amount of stress I had to deal with in my life. I grew up in a world where the stress level was always cranked to 11 and we weren't allowed to have much of a say in what we had to deal with.
We had to make a lot of adult decisions when we were children who weren't supposed to have to worry about things, like whether or not we would have food for supper. To say things were dysfunctional is putting it mildly which is probably why I like that show,'Shameless' so much.
I don't do very well with controlling my stress, but I can at least try to keep it to a bare minimum most of the time! Most people would consider my life very boring, but they haven't had the life that I have. I used to be such a chaos junkie without really understanding that I didn't have to put up with people, places, or things that drove me batty.
I know a lot of people, like my girlfriend who thrive on dealing with that kind of chaos but it isn't something that I enjoy anymore.
Controlling stress is a lot easier than people make it out to be. It may require a lot of sacrifices, like losing family or friends, but in reality you'll be a lot better off. There is far too much stress in the world already that people bring on to themselves by not dealing with their own issues.
They in turn project it on to everyone else, which is like pouring gas on the fire! I know it can't be avoided but it can be minimized so that your life doesn't become like a war zone everyday.
I couldn't agree with you more Randy. Thank you.
Yes stress isn't something we can avoid, but as you say we shouldn't project it on to others, and must keep stress down to a minimum, if only to avoid long term illness.Stress leads to long term illness, which must be avoided at all costs.
In the past year or so, I have methodically divorced myself from as many stress factors as possible, including uprooting my life from my old environment. When I came to awareness of how severely stressed I was, I knew I had to manage my affairs much differently.
This blog illustrates many ways to reduce stress in our lives, but we have to be courageous enough to do it.
Thanks Tim. Yes changing is difficult and needs us to be courageous, but once we take the plunge, we rarely look back once we're settled. The anticipation and fear of change is harder than change itself.
Over the years I have learned how to make changes. I would advocate anyone try and fail, rather than live with anxiety and stress and not change at all.
I'm so pleased you have managed to divorce yourself from some of your own stress factors.