3 Stress-Management Tips for Busy Lives
We have all been there: pressed for time and juggling multiple commitments. Sometimes these demands outweigh our resources – time, money, energy, and support – causing even the smallest of tasks to feel overwhelming and insurmountable.
Ongoing stress of this sort can lead to burnout and a multitude of physical and emotional symptoms that can undermine the quality of our lives and relationships.
So, how can we cope with stress in a world of unrelenting stimulation and demands? How can we cultivate the skills needed to unplug and feel our best, while keeping up with our obligations? Here are some easy tips for finding calm in chaotic moments:
Recognize the stress
One of the most helpful, yet commonly disregarded, steps for managing stress is recognizing it. When not disrupted, stress accumulates over time. Often, it’s at our “breaking points” that we discover our stress, making the task of unwinding a challenging one. Having an awareness of how your stress manifests can help. Many people, for example, experience muscle tension, stomach ache or headache, or have difficulty getting restful sleep. Self-medicating with substances such as processed foods or alcohol is a common response to stress, as is irritability. Noticing your stress and disrupting it with self-compassion can make all the difference in whether it accumulates and gets the better of you.
Set Boundaries around Your Commitments
Remember that you are only one person and above all else human. Thus, we must be careful not to take on more than we can enjoy. Working toward an excess of goals that we believe will bring us happiness is misguided. In reality, the happiest individuals find joy in the little things. While they do work toward big accomplishments, they don’t depend upon them for self-worth or contentment. Set a realistic daily goal that will bring you a sense of accomplishment. Try to stay present as you work on them, and resist multitasking. Acknowledge your progress and deliberately enjoy it!
Incorporate Coping Skills into Daily Life
Weaving coping mechanisms into your routine keeps stress at a minimum, allowing you to better appreciate and invest in the relationships and activities that matter most to you. These take some time to develop. Try out an array of skills – exercise, meditation, time in nature, journaling, eg – to see which you enjoy most and can keep up with. Over time, you’ll notice the benefits manifested by minor changes in your coping regimen. Practicing coping skills for even just a few minutes daily can beget improved sleep and mood, and a decreased reliance on unhealthful habits to manage stress.
Excessive and unrelenting stress can lead to unhappiness as well as physical and emotional pain. Noticing your stress cues, setting boundaries, and incorporating stress-management into your routine can keep stress at a tolerable level. However, if managing stress on your own seems impossible, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional to help kick start your stress-less journey.
Author: Lauren Ares, LMFT
