Life should be exciting and pleasurable. How many times have you said that to yourself?
For life to be enjoyable, we need to be able to manage challenges. Unfortunately, there will be times when we feel we cannot cope and it is then that we experience negative stress. But experiencing signs of stress does not mean you are a weak individual who cannot cope — it just means you are as human as everyone else.
We all react differently to the situations we have to face because we are all unique individuals. Some of us may have passive personalities while others are very competitive. And our reaction to pressure, especially excess pressure, varies enormously. Our well-being and health depends on our reactions to situations.
One of the best ways to learn how to manage stress is to acknowledge that it exists. Some of the most common signs of stress are:
• Mood swings
• Anxiety and/or depression
• Skin problems • Tiredness
• Muscle tension
• Poor concentration/ memory
• Waking unrefreshed
• Changes in eating patterns
• Low self-esteem
• Digestive problems
It is very important to take positive action when faced with stress as, if experienced over a prolonged period of time, it can seriously damage mental and physical health.
The following proven coping strategies can help reduce the effects of stress in your life.
* Be self-aware of your own warning signs — maybe this could be a sudden feeling of anxiety, extreme tiredness or feeling very tearful.
* Review what is really causing your stress. Think about what action you could take to change things. Examine whether your expectations of yourself and others are realistic.
* At times of stress, we often fall into the trap of either not eating sufficiently or overeating. Try always to eat a balanced diet.
* Eat complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread and pasta, rather than biscuits or chocolate. Remember, what you eat influences your mood.
* Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and keep sugar and salt intake to a minimum. This will help to support your immune system in its fight against colds and flu.
* Drink plenty of water; it helps general health as it rehydrates your body.
* Try and keep coffee and all caffeine consumption to a minimum and avoid using nicotine or self-prescribed drugs.
* Do not feel guilty about including a period of relaxation every day. We all need to ‘switch off’ from time-to-time. Do something you enjoy that complements your life-style.
This could, for example, be reading, listening to music, yoga or meditation, or enjoying a warm bath with aromatherapy oils. Remember, to be comfortable both inside and out is a vital part of living successfully.
* Make sure that regular exercise is part of your daily regime, and choose an activity that works for you. Make sure you choose an exercise what you like to do or you wont stick to it. If you have any doubts as to the correct intensity or duration, ask an expert. Also, check with your doctor before starting a new regime.
Do you often find yourself saying “Yes!” when in fact you mean “No”? Are you always late for appointments? Do you get frustrated knowing you could have done a better job if only you had organised your time better?
If yes, learn how to be more assertive and manage your time. Many of us waste a lot of the day, then make excuses for things we have not done.
Consider attending a stress-management training course. You do not have to be stressed to attend one of these. It is far better to know what to do before experiencing stress than after.
The secret to managing stress is learning how to control your personal environment and the pressures within it, by strengthening all your resources of energy and using your time efficiently.
Key points
* Stress can be avoided by strengthening resilience.
* It is about taking back control of our lives.
* Being fit and healthy is the best starting point.
— The writer is CEO of an international stress management consultancy and the author of ‘Show Stress Who’s Boss!’.
