Dear Stress, Let's break up!

For me, this week has been stressful, mainly good stress that will allow me to celebrate things personally and professionally, but stressful nonetheless.  We all have moments in life that cause us to experience stress on some level. Stress, in normal, healthy doses can be a good thing. However, if you find yourself stressed to an abnormal level or an inability to cope, it may be helpful to try some stress management techniques. I've listed a few that are helpful to me.

Wash your cares away-Try taking a shower or bath. There is something refreshing and cleansing about water. The ability to control the water temperature, amount of time in the shower/bath and if you have one of those fancy shower heads, you can even control the intensity of the water (after all, a lot of stress is due to things we cannot control). Imagine your stressors going down the drain with the water. Allow yourself to exit the shower/bath refreshed, renewed and clean and free from stress.

Laughter is good for the soul-We've all heard this. Laughter not only lightens your mental load, it also causes physical changes within the body. In short, laughter increases our feel good hormones (endorphins) and can also help with muscle relaxation. So, watch a funny TV show, read a joke or recall a funny moment. Daily I find a "line of the day". That is something that was said either by me or someone else that tickled me and gets me through the day, sometimes longer.

Get you motor running-Yes, get up and do something! Dance, cook, exercise, sing, or shop. Just get up. Exercise does the same thing as laughing, it releases those endorphins.

Woosah-If getting up and getting out is too much, that's OK. Conversely, if you need to take a break and breather, do so! Take a nap, relax quietly in a dark room or meditate on peaceful and relaxing things.

Just use your imagination-Barney said it best, right? (I used to teach preschool so I know QUITE a few Barney songs)!
"Close your eyes and you will find
There are pictures in your mind
Things that you can see and feel
All those things are very real
You can be most anywhere,
When your imagination takes you there"

 

Barney taught many how to use their imagination and create! In stressful instances, try some guided imagery or relaxation/deep breathing exercises. Imagine yourself in a calm, peaceful place. It may be a beach, a spa or your bedroom. Just somewhere that is calm, safe and relaxing to you. Monitor your breathing and allow yourself to feel calm. I'll admit, this one was very hard for me in the beginning because like most of you, I'm thinking about 1 million things at once. But, with practice, you can learn to quiet your mind and decrease your stress level.

In Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, psychotherapist, Richard Carlson says, "ask yourself this question: will this matter a year from now?" If your answer is no, start to let go of unnecessary stressors. If your answer is yes, work to learn to manage it in a healthy and adaptive manner.

If you struggle with daily stress management, counseling or talking to a trained professional may be helpful.

*Info in this blog is strictly my personal and/or professional opinion. Posts and comments are not intended to treat, diagnose or replace any medical advice you may have received. Please contact your doctor or therapist if you feel you need help, and in case of an emergency, dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.*

Managing Financial Stress

With the economy in "crisis", no bail outs for the average American, an increase in unemployment rates and the price of everyday items increasing while paychecks remain the same, or even decrease; many people may be experiencing stress related to financial hardships. I was recently interviewed and the featured writer for the coaching blog, The FIRM (Financially Independent Role Models) and discussed how to manage stress during, what to some, are tough times. In this blog are some of the excerpts from the article.

Why is it important to be 'stress free' when thinking about finances?

Stress can cause many adverse effects to our bodies. When we are stressed, several hormones are released. Some stress is good as it helps us react in anxiety producing situations. However, too much stress without an outlet to relieve it can be detrimental. These days, the word "finance" or money automatically produces a reaction. When focusing on finances and many other situations, it is important to be clear headed and focused. This prevents us from making hasty or irrational decisions.

What are some tips on how people can handle stress in these tough economic times? (Many of these tips can be applied to any type of stress)

- Make a budget, and try hard to stick to it, only adjusting it for important financial changes.

- Journal about your experience. If this is all new to you, you may experience a range of emotions. Writing about it will help clear your head. You'll also be able to look back on it and see how successful you were, or you may learn what not to do in case of another financial crisis.

- Establish a support system with friends, family and people who are doing well during these times. These people will guide you through. You can also learn something about good money management.

- Learn your body and pay attention to signs you may be stressed (headache, stomach ache, fatigue, irritability).

- Exercise! Just as stress releases hormones, physical activity releases "feel good" hormones or endorphins. This will automatically decrease current stress.

- Identify what about your situation is stressing you and figure out if the feeling is really stress. It may be that you are scared, anxious, frustrated. Basically, discover underlying or associated feelings. Then, you can deal with the real issue.

-When stressed, try deep breathing exercises to promote relaxation.

-Seek professional help (both financial and therapeutic). If financial stress has you out of sorts and effecting your day-to-day activities, you may benefit from short term counseling to get you back on track.

-Practice self care! It's ok to put yourself first at times. Remember, when you're at your best, you can help others to be there best!

Don't forget to leave a comment and let readers know your stress management techniques when it comes to money management.

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*Info in this blog is strictly my personal and/or professional opinion. Posts and comments are not intended to treat, diagnose or replace any medical advice you may have received. Please contact your doctor or therapist if you feel you need help, and in case of an emergency, dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.*