Even though we are living near the beautiful Gulf, in one of America’s richest cultural cities, many of us still find ourselves inundated with stressors from the fast-paced, ever evolving world we live in. It doesn’t take a lot to wreak havoc on our comfort zone. It can be something as small as noticing you’ve put on a few post-holiday pounds to something as drastic as a job change, or financial crunch. When this happens it can affect not only your day-to-day life, but also one’s emotional and physical state. Just remember, you may not be in control of everything that happens in your life, but we can all be in control of our reactions and how we handle the stressors we encounter.
Here are six tips to manage your stress today, so you can feel better all year long.
Take care of you.
Stress can be held at bay by simply taking a few smart steps to take care of yourself. For starters, exercise. Anything from walking to working out, but something. Partake in a healthy diet and don’t overeat. Get 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night. This may not sound like cutting edge advice but remember that sometimes the simple things are the ones we overlook.
Commit to being positive.
William James, the father of modern psychology said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that man can alter his life simply by altering his attitude." From motivational gurus to life coaches to authors, everyone in the know agrees that if we think positive thoughts we can expect to get a more positive result. This doesn’t mean everything will always go your way, but it does mean it will more often.
Find and set boundaries.
People can only treat you as you allow them to. This is not to say that family members, co-workers and friends will always treat you as you expect; that, to a large degree, is all part of life. However, setting boundaries acts as a filter to keep you safe from the hurtful behavior of others. Determine what you will and won’t accept and respectfully share this information with anyone who may have a tendency to step over your lines.
Better organize your home and work.
Scattered items in unorganized homes and offices remind us of things we’ve left undone. Seeing these items stresses us because of the work it can take to organize them. To rectify this, begin to define the purpose of each space in your home or workplace and sort things into their rightful place.
Surround yourself with supportive people.
It has often been said that we become a lot like the people we spend the most time around. This is exactly why being around energetic, positive, friendly, and solution-oriented people is the best way to become that way ourselves. Spend time with people who really believe in you, are supportive of your endeavors, and genuinely value you, your thoughts, and your abilities.
Practice gratitude.
Make even a short mental list of things you’re grateful for, and you’ll see how fast your perspective will shift. The glass is indeed half full… maybe even all the way. Feeling the fullness of your heart in the present moment is a quick way to break out of stressed-out patterns. Give yourself grace, and when you feel challenged realize that it’s human to react to stress, but learning how to really manage it and thrive is divine.