By
Susan Leigh
We can experience stress at any age. Children often experience
unappreciated levels of stress, from peer pressure, worry about exams.
concerns about their body image, their popularity. Adults often have
work, family and relationship worries and stresses to contend with.
Older people may stress about their health, finances, their quality of
life. Every age can brings its own stresses and pressures.
Let's look at five tips to help you manage stress:
- Acknowledge that some stress is good for you; it makes you perform better, think outside the box, dig deep. Stressed people often get more done in a day, frequently achieving more than they originally anticipated because of their heightened levels of thinking through stress. But living in a constant stressful state is harmful to health, quality of life and happiness.
- Many people find that a worry/stress list is a good way to manage stress as it helps to itemize everything that needs to be done. A list provides reassurance that things won't be forgotten and equally don't need to be memorised. Everything is listed in your notebook. Add to the list as you think of things, as required, prioritize what you have to do each day, note where you're up to, what you've done and cross out tasks as they're completed. Remember to congratulate yourself each day for what you've accomplished.
- Delegate. Even young children can be given tasks to help. Setting the table, folding towels, tidying up may not be done exactly to your standards, but allowing others to help includes them in the team, helps them feel responsible and teaches them new skills. Delegating to staff encourages them to take on more responsibility and grow in confidence as they become more proficient. They may even come up with new ideas as they become more adept in their work.
- Work on your relationships. Treat your relationships well by enjoying open and honest communications. Share conversations about your lives rather than just daily updates about what you want to eat or what you need from the supermarket. Why not prepare your evening meal, put it in the oven and enjoy a walk together or a family game. That way you share fun time together, talk and maybe have some exercise. A little planning can help manage stress and enhance the quality of your personal life.
- Have some quality 'me' time. It can be all too easy to forget about ourselves, the things that matter to us, that we want to do, in the midst of a busy, demanding life. But scheduling in some valuable time for yourself, to go to the gym, spend in the garden, enjoy an important hobby or interest can make all the difference to your mindset and quality of life.
Whether you choose to spend your personal time alone or with others it's important to reinforce the message both to yourself and to the people in your life that you and the things you do are as relevant as them. Having personal time is yet another valid and positive way to help you manage stress.
Susan Leigh is a Counsellor and Hypnotherapist who works with
stressed individuals to promote confidence and self belief, with couples
experiencing relationship difficulties to improve communications and
understanding and with business clients to support the health and
motivation levels of individuals and teams.- Acknowledge that some stress is good for you; it makes you perform better, think outside the box, dig deep. Stressed people often get more done in a day, frequently achieving more than they originally anticipated because of their heightened levels of thinking through stress. But living in a constant stressful state is harmful to health, quality of life and happiness.
- Many people find that a worry/stress list is a good way to manage stress as it helps to itemize everything that needs to be done. A list provides reassurance that things won't be forgotten and equally don't need to be memorised. Everything is listed in your notebook. Add to the list as you think of things, as required, prioritize what you have to do each day, note where you're up to, what you've done and cross out tasks as they're completed. Remember to congratulate yourself each day for what you've accomplished.
- Delegate. Even young children can be given tasks to help. Setting the table, folding towels, tidying up may not be done exactly to your standards, but allowing others to help includes them in the team, helps them feel responsible and teaches them new skills. Delegating to staff encourages them to take on more responsibility and grow in confidence as they become more proficient. They may even come up with new ideas as they become more adept in their work.
- Work on your relationships. Treat your relationships well by enjoying open and honest communications. Share conversations about your lives rather than just daily updates about what you want to eat or what you need from the supermarket. Why not prepare your evening meal, put it in the oven and enjoy a walk together or a family game. That way you share fun time together, talk and maybe have some exercise. A little planning can help manage stress and enhance the quality of your personal life.
- Have some quality 'me' time. It can be all too easy to forget about ourselves, the things that matter to us, that we want to do, in the midst of a busy, demanding life. But scheduling in some valuable time for yourself, to go to the gym, spend in the garden, enjoy an important hobby or interest can make all the difference to your mindset and quality of life.
Whether you choose to spend your personal time alone or with others it's important to reinforce the message both to yourself and to the people in your life that you and the things you do are as relevant as them. Having personal time is yet another valid and positive way to help you manage stress.
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