CONTROL
We often demonise stress as being the key problem in life, but stress can be awesome. The bi-product of caring about something, working hard, adapting and overcoming.
When we can’t cope, we are in a place of discomfort, a new territory that is essential for us to do things we have never done before and the opportunity to prevail. It’s scary, but it can also be exciting.
If you want to develop, you must be ready for stress. Be it hitting the weights, opening a book or making a change to your diet. You will need to focus your efforts and take some form of a cognitive or physical hit to come back smarter or stronger.
It is necessary to be the best version of yourself. It will happen and it is okay. The problem is how we manage it. If we let stress take control, it can easily consume us, wasting our time, energy and effort.
I'm sure you get stressed daily.
What do you do to control it?
What do you do to hit the reset button, so that tomorrow you are ready for the next batch of stress?
This is the skill of control. A skill that few seek in acquiring, but is essential in seeing stress as a positive. If you want to make your life better, you need to learn how to respect and utilise this potentially destructive feeling.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE
A good general principle is that if you are stressing about something out of your control - worrying won't help. Try your best to acknowledge that you have done everything you can and deal with the situation when it comes.
If it is within your control. Do everything within your ability to encourage your desired outcome. Only then will you be truly satisfied and able to move on.
Yes, it's easier said than done, but it's not a bad place to start.
SWITCH OFF
Find something that helps you switch off. Exercise is preferable. We frequently use a tough workout to get out of our head and into our body! Simply put, it is difficult to worry about bills or a work project when you have a heavyweight pressed over your head! To us, it is meditation.
Some people find great benefit in meditation. Apps like Headspace or Waking Up are highly recommended in assisting people with this process.
But it doesn't have to be a definitive practice - reading a book, playing a game or going for a walk can all yield similar results for different people. What is yours?
Another great tip for when you are feeling stressed is to try to help someone else. An act of generosity often shifts the focus away from you and can be a catalyst for a better day. Call a friend, buy a stranger a coffee or help a neighbour cut their grass, it's a great distraction and will make you feel better.