8 Ways I deal with Stress.

By Jim Estill

I think part of success in life has to do with how well we deal with stress.  The beauty of this is we can learn to deal better with stress so it is a life skill we can improve.  No one can cause us to do anything.  People and events do not cause us stress, it is our reaction to what happens.  And the beauty of this; our reaction that we can choose to control.   The following are 8 ways I deal with stress:

1 –  Figure out what I can control.  Stress for me tends to be things that happen that are out of my control.  Even if this is the case, there are always things I can do that are within my control.  For example, I cannot control currency fluctuations but I can take actions that cause them to have less financial impact on me.

2 – Stress is related to problem solving skills.  So I work on my problem solving.  One trick for that is to write it down.  Just the simple act of writing it down tends to help with the solution and also helps reduce the stress.

3 – Look at what is really happening.  Much stress is created in our imagination.  We tend to think things are worse than they are. 

4 – Exercise.  For me, exercise tends to keep me centered.  The times stress bothers me most is when I have not balanced myself.  Plain and simple – exercise reduces stress and the negative reactions to stress.  It is tough to go for even a 5 minute walk and not feel calmer.

5 – Take a few deep breaths.  It is amazing how this reduces the stress reaction.

6 – Stress tends to be closely tied to time management and most of you know I am a student of this.  If I am well organized and using my time effectively, I can handle stress better.   For my Time Management Secrets – order my book, eBook or CD.

7 – Help someone less fortunate.  Nothing puts things into perspective better. 

8 – Finally acceptance.  If there truly is nothing I can do then worry only creates stress.  This is easy to say but I work hard at trying to accept what I need to (but not before a lot of brainstorming to make sure I truly cannot control anything about it)

Managing stress is a bit like white water canoeing.  The water will win if you try to control it.  Rather – work with it.   Simply help guide a bit but largely let the river do the work. 

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121 AD – 180 AD)