April 1, 2010
Celebrate April - Stress Awareness Month - With Low Stress Living
Stress is an inevitable part of life today. No one is immune; we all experience stress. While some stress is normal, too much stress can result in a wide range of physical ailments like high blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, strokes, heart attacks and even premature death.
April is Stress Awareness Month. It’s a good opportunity to pinpoint and reduce the specific sources of stress in your life and learn some effective coping skills. Knowing how to control your stress means that you’ll be healthier, more enthusiastic and productive and your life will be more enjoyable.
Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so, if you’ve got too little time, too much to do and too many daily demands pulling you in too many directions, here are some tips to minimize the stress and keep you organized.
TIP #1 – WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER: Every 15 minutes you spend planning can save you an hour in the execution stage. What's more, spending time upfront helps you beat work overload – a key source of stress.
TIP #2 – LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE: Endorphins - the body’s natural pain and stress fighters - are released from the brain whenever you smile, laugh, exercise, connect with friends and family, enjoy nature, have a positive experience, etc. So laugh more, make time to enjoy more and you’ll experience less stress.
TIP #3 – BE PROACTIVE: Most of us have more control over our environments than we think, but it requires us being proactive to eliminate stressors. It requires us to speak up and say what we will - and will NOT - endure. You are the master of your fate and unless you learn that, you may never be able to relieve the stress in your life.
TIP #4 – GET BACK IN BALANCE: Nothing depletes the immune system and affects your mental and physical health faster than chronic stress. Deep breathing, exercise, yoga and meditation all have an immediate positive effect on stressors. When you get stressed, learn to discipline yourself to stop and do something that will calm you down.
TIP #5 – COUNT ON ME: It can be very stressful to work with people you can’t rely on. Firmly but gently let people know that you’re counting on them to do what they say they will. If they continue to be unreliable, look for a solution(s) to the problem or they will continue to create stress in your life. It may be easier said than done, but you need to solve the problem if you want to save your sanity and your health.
TIP #6 – TIME MANAGEMENT: It’s a myth that you can manage time. You can’t. You get the same 24 hours a day that everyone gets so be ruthless about how you spend yours. Think about every task or activity in terms of whether it brings you closer to your goals and priorities or not.
TIP #7 – LESS IS BETTER: The more we have the more we have to manage and the more stress we place on ourselves. A simplified life is an organized life and relieves stress. Less is better if you want your life to be easier.
TIP #8 – TOOL TIME: Using “tools” wisely makes life less stressful. For example, horizontal surfaces in your home and office can become clutter magnets if their true purposes are overlooked. A dining room table is a “tool” to enjoy eating and spending time with family and friends. A desk is a “tool” to collect and process information. A kitchen counter is a “tool” to receive and prepare food and clean up after meals. A floor is a “tool” to move people around a space. You get the idea.
TIP #9 – NO INTERRUPTIONS, PLEASE: There is new scientific proof that multi-tasking doesn’t work and can be stressful. The brain simply can’t process jumping from task to task or idea to idea. And, besides, how annoying is it to be constantly interrupting yourself! Instead, make an appointment with yourself and set aside uninterrupted time in which you can focus. Mark in your planner the block of time necessary to do this, just like you do with other appointments.
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MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
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MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009