5 Tried & True Tips to Realistically Manage Stress
The topic of how to manage stress has been a long-time requested topic! I was waiting for the right time for inspiration to hit, and by that I mean… I was waiting to get hit with a big stress cloud, so I could dig myself out with my tried and true tips! Haha, well you’re all in luck… I had quite the mental breakdown the other day, and no matter how organized a gal tries to be, sh*t happens. Life can be wildly unpredictable, and you can’t always ‘let go of what’s not serving you’. Sometimes you just have to accept what’s in front of you, and keep paddling through it. That’s essentially what I’ve had to do as of late, but there are a few things I do to help myself manage this stress in order to keep myself healthy and (mostly) sane.
There are a bajillion articles out there on how to manage stress. Yes, you can meditate, light a candle, talk to a friend, or journal… but here’s a few more things to add to the list that perhaps you haven’t thought of.
1. Avoid Venting
Venting about all the things I’m stressed about tends to make me spiral and feel even more overwhelmed. I become a dark tornado tearing up everything in my path… just ask Andrew. Oops. So, rather than focusing on what I’m stressed about, I focus on the actions I’m going to take to feel less stressed. Alright? Let’s talk about actions…
2. Set your workspace up for success
Quickly declutter that shiz, so you can eliminate distractions. I know you’re stressed and short on time, so shove all those messy papers into a drawer or stow it away under your desk for now. Clear your desk, so you’ve only got out the essentials. Pour yourself a big glass of water or make yourself a matcha. Grab a notebook + pin. Sit up straight, take a deep breath, and say “OKAY, YOU’VE GOT THIS.”. I’m not kidding. I talk to myself, and I give myself verbal pep talks to pump myself up for a productive day when I really need it. Be your own cheerleader, and crush your day.
3. Dissect & Prioritize
Stress can be a very paralyzing feeling. The best way I’ve been able to motivate myself is to problem-solve my way out of my stress. To do this, write out a list of what is stressing you out/what needs to get done, and then prioritize the items into categories tagged low, medium, high priority. I went ahead and created a FREE Stress Reduction + Prioritization worksheet to help you figure this out.
4. Take a Break & DANCE
…or go to yoga, or bike, or WHATEVER gets your body moving. Not only will getting your blood pumping help you relieve stress, but it will also help you refocus your energy. If you’re hitting the pavement, staring at your screen, and making no progress, than you can afford to take a break, even if it’s 5-10 minutes. I know you’re stressed and you think the last thing you have time for is a dance break, but I double-dog-dare-you to go try it and report back. THEN, we can chat.
5. Feel the Gratitude
This is advice that seems too basic to actually be beneficial, but in truth, it’s on this list because gratitude is the antidote to stress. Stress stems from over-worrying, and all of this energy is building up as a way to prepare you for a challenge. Be grateful that you’ve got a full plate, because life ebbs and flows. It’s in these moments that you become a stronger leader, a better problem-solver, a boundary-setter, a risk-taker, and all the things that push you to the finish line of this stressful time.
