Overcoming Stressful Situations

We can probably all agree that stress can bring out the worst in people. The feeling of not having control makes things more difficult and causes a sense of powerlessness.

We all experience stress in our lives from time to time. Parenting, finances, starting a new job, or being overwhelmed by current deadlines can cause stress. Stress is that voice that says, “there are way too many things that need to be done and never enough time to get them done.”

As annoying as stress can be, it can be a great motivator to get things done. Without deadlines or benchmarks to hold us accountable, it’s easy to get too comfortable – even complacent. So how can we respond to such stressful situations without losing our cool? (If you’re dealing with relationship conflict, check out this article.)

I came across this article on Lifehack.org that lists 5 helpful tips for controlling stressful situations. I want to focus on two of the five that help me most when the number of tasks seems to be greater the number of hours in each day.

#1 Unplug

There’s a lot of research out there that shows how often people check their phones – for some people it’s 180 times a day! That doesn’t include the time spent on computers. Taking time to be present in the real world, working on DIY projects, going fishing, and talking to people face-to-face are some of the biggest stress relievers for me. Lifehack also has a really great tip on unplugging your mind, with meditation. “It isn’t nearly as difficult or complicated as some people think, so, if you don’t already meditate, give it a try. Whether you meditate for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours this is a surefire way to reduce mental stress. Meditation has been scientifically proven to relax your body (resulting in less mental stress), while also reducing anxiety and high blood pressure.”

 

#2 Good Old-Fashioned Exercise

My wife and I love to exercise! It helps us re-center ourselves and take control of our day, instead of letting the day control us. Exercising takes our focus off the stressful situation and puts it on making it through the set. Lifehack says, “This tip has been around forever because it works. Nothing relieves mental stress like running, kickboxing — you name it. Anything super-physical will wipe out most of your mental stresses once the exercise endorphins (happy chemicals) are released into your brain. The result: mental stress will be gone!”

I hope these tips help you the next time you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

If you have a tip for relieving stress that you’d like to share, please leave a comment below.  We’d love to hear from you.