Stress can be considered to be anything that stimulates you and increases your level of alertness. Life without stimulus would be incredible dull and boring, however a life with too much stimulus can become unpleasant and tiring and can ultimately damage your health and well-being. The art of stress management is to keep yourself at a level of stimulation that is healthy and enjoyable.
Some of the most commonly held beliefs about stress are :
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It is created by external factors eg Financial, work etc
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It is something we have no control over
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We are victims of it
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Somebody or something is to blame
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It is an amorphous, non-specific condition
These beliefs give us no, or very little, power or feeling of control in difficult or life-challenging situations. However, the first Golden Rule in adopting any stress management program is to understand that :
WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE
When we realize that we actually have the power of choice, we may then find it easier to respond differently to perceived situations or people. While it is not always possible to change the situation itself, it is possible to change the way that we are reacting to it.
An appropriate definition of Stress is :
• A disturbance created within you by your response
to an activity or situation, be it internal or external
• caused by an abnormal demand on our capacity and
ability to adapt
We all have our own personal temperaments, value system and personality aspects that influence the way that we perceive and act in our world. The consequence of this is that so called ‘stress triggers’ are not the same from person to person – what causes one person to feel severely stressed may well be a positive stimulus and a source of enjoyment for another. We are all different and unique individuals, with our own package of characteristics that we take through life. It may help to remember when we are faced with a difficult person or situation that Everybody is doing the best that they can, with what they know and understand about themselves in any given moment. The more awareness we have, the better equipped we are to make more informed choices and deal more effectively with life situations in general.
When we take the time to understand who we are as individuals, we are better able to understand our reactions to given situations and make more aware choices in our lives. The result is a more relaxed, happier way of being.
Rezonate's approach to Stress Management is to provide the tools and support to assist you in becoming more self-aware and better able to respond to the challenges you are presented with, whether this be at work or at home. We don't leave ourselves behind when we walk in the door to work, we take our whole self with us wherever we are !
Why is knowing yourself important to stress management ?
Every individual has their own temperament, style of managing stress, and value system. You need to develop strategies relevant to your personal style and compatible with your personal values, otherwise you are not likely to use them.
You may feel comfortable with some of your characteristics, less happy with others. In either case, to effectively manage stress you need to be aware of your own optimum stress level and coping style, as well as the goals and values that guide your reactions.
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Rezonate offers the following Stress-Busting Services :
- Introductory Stress Management workshops for company employees (morning or full day)
- Extended programmes for the workplace that can include personal stress profiling, identifying potential stressors in the environment, team interactions and introducing wellness strategies and tools
- One-one consultations, including stress profiling and optional coaching
Along with our key associates, Pure-Intention, we have the flexibility to provide your business or your life with a powerful collection of tools to assist you in leading in a more fulfilled and empowered life. See their website at www.pure-intention.com
QUICK TIPS FOR DEALING WITH STRESSFUL SITUATIONS
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Do something playful for at least 15 minutes
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Eat more slowly and more regularly
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Take a power nap
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If you need a break, stop what you are doing for 5 minutes
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Walk barefoot across grass (best in summer !)
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Stroke gently across your head from front to back several times
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De-clutter your space (office/study/home etc)
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Take a relaxing bath or have a warm footbath
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Get some natural daylight every day
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Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day
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Spend a few minutes focussing on your breathing (breathe in deeply for a count of 4, hold for 2, and then out to the count of 4)
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Decide to believe that all will work out fine
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Pretend you don’t care what others think of you
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Look at the colour blue - visualise breathing it in
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Become “sloppier” when it comes to worrying
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Give your self praise for something you have done well
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Pretend that you are the happiest person in the world
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Learn to let unimportant things go
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Watch a funny movie - laugh !
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Make a list of all of your POSITIVE achievements
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