Manage Your Stress, Don’t Let It Manage You!

“Stress” has become a very common word in our society.  Growing up I rarely heard anyone say “I’m stressed out”.  Now I don’t think a day goes by without hearing at least one person complain about the amount of stress they’re under.  I know lawn care may not seem stressful, but I’ve heard the word 3 times today – and it’s only 10:15am on Monday morning. 

The Silent Killer

Stress can be a silent killer.  Being under too much stress can trigger a heart attack or contribute to various other diseases and conditions.  Don’t panic!  You can do something about it.  Can you eliminate all stress from your life?  Probably not, but you can learn how to better deal with it.  If you find yourself overwhelmed by day-to-day pressures, please discuss it with your doctor.  They may be able to help, or at least offer some excellent advice!

In our fast-paced world, it’s very important to know how to unwind.  Some prefer a glass of wine, others find exercise relieving, and some (like my husband) like to put in a video game and take out frustration on the enemy troops.  For me relaxation means a nice massage, a soak in the hot tub, or meditation.  Let me guess, you’re thinking “MEDITATION??  Oh great, she’s going to push her Zen stuff on me”.  WAIT!!  Don’t leave me yet!  I won’t go too “Zen” on you, I promise!! 

First, it’s important for everyone to know their limits.  Some people can handle more stress than others.  That doesn’t make one better or worse, stronger or weaker.  No matter what your limit, you can learn healthy ways to combat stress! 

Controlling Your Emotions

Next, you must remember that you are ultimately in control of your own emotions.  You choose how you react to everything.  Granted, you may only have a tenth of a second before your anger explodes, but you do control it!  You can CHOOSE to calm yourself down.  (No, really, you can.)  I’ve been a student of the art of relaxation for several years and I can control it.  Do I always?  No.  Can I?  Yes!  When I fail, I don’t beat myself up over it.  I just try harder the next time.  Each time I practice control, I get better at it!  You can too! 

Tune In To Part 2 for De-Stressing Tips and Ideas!