Invest in Stress Management

We live in a much more chaotic world than our ancestors. Thanks to technology and our future-oriented culture, we are expected to manage more tasks in an hour than our grandparents handled in a day’s work. Many people experience stress on such a regular basis that they mistakenly think their bodies have become accustomed to the feeling. 

You may be accustomed to the feeling, but let me assure you, every inch of your body is suffering the consequences. Consider investing time and energy into your wellbeing by managing stress in the following ways:

Make stress management a priority!

No matter what roles and responsibilities you have, you will be more successful at managing them if you are in good health. Stress negatively impacts your health, therefore, stress HAS to be a priority. 

Our society as a whole does not seem to value stress management. Consequently, our society as a whole is not as healthy as it could be. So are you going to be a leader or a follower?

People in your life may not always support your desire to make healthy decisions. But only YOU can decide to make stress management a priority. It’s your life. Only you can say NO to things that are unhealthy for you and YES to things that are. Only you can put stress management at the top of your daily “to do” list. It’s not always easy, but it’s always a choice.

Identify your stressors. Then face them.         

You may have experienced a trauma that continues to create stress. You may be stressed from having too much on your plate. You may have relationships that cause stress. Whatever the culprit, make a decision to face it. It is tempting to avoid dealing with these issues and hope they will go away on their own. Let’s face it, the longer you avoid your stressors, the longer they boil inside of you.    

The good news is, once you decide to face your stressors, there is relief around the corner. It may take some courage and work to get there, but you will only find relief by putting one foot in front of the other.

Take a break.                

Your mind and body deserve a break. Stress will always be a part of our life. But you cannot cope with stress on an empty tank. You must give yourself permission to take breaks on a regular basis. This doesn’t have to be an expensive weekend vacation. It can be as simple as taking a walk in the evenings or reading a book on the beach.  

Kristin Woodling, a licensed mental health counselor and certified marriage and family therapist, owns Pamper Your Mind, LLC in Satellite Beach. She is devoted to providing a confidential and elite therapeutic experience to professional women seeking healing, clarity, and balanced lifestyle for optimal health.