• Stress trigger: I’ve got so much to do I end up feeling hopeless and doing nothing
  Solution: Make a list of the things you need to do. This will help you prioritise and when your thoughts are down on paper there is more room in your head. Once you’ve written your list, tear it up and write it again. This time for every item you want to put down ask yourself if you really need to do that and make sure your final list is not longer than 10 points.
• Stress trigger: Can’t stop worrying
  Worrying achieves nothing but we all do it. Ask yourself if you can change anything by worrying about it — if you can take positive action, then do it. If you can’t do anything take a deep breath and counteract your worry habit with a more positive habit. For example, instead of worrying you could take a walk in the park, or chat to a friend or read an inspiring book.
• Stress trigger: I can’t say no when people ask me to do things
  Solution: Contrary to popular opinion ‘no’ doesn’t have to be a negative — if your habit is to say yes to everything then drown in stress, spring cleaning your mind is all about learning to take on less and saying no is crucial. Start by saying no at least once a day but don’t just blurt out no in an angry voice, explain why or even say, ‘I can’t do it now but I could do it later,’ and see what happens. Soon you’ll be confident enough to say no whenever you need to and you’ll start to see that it has an instant calming effect.
• Stress trigger: Flying off the handle
  Solution: Break the habit of flying off the handle when people upset or criticise you by taking a few deep breaths. The best revenge if someone is driving you mad is to stay cool and in control so they look like a stressed out child and you look like the adult. If you are still feeling wound up some stress busting Siberian ginseng tea, with 2-6 gram of the dried root per day boiled in water and drunk three times a day may help.
• Stress trigger: Information overload
  If there is too much going on in your head take a break for a day from the TV and newspapers. Instead of taking in more information it gives you time to deal with your own mental clutter. Next detox your home — a tidy environment means a tidy mind. Start by having a bin bag day where you chuck all your junk and see how much more in control of your life you feel. Finally, lighten up your thoughts with humour and fun. Yes life is difficult and the world can be a scary and stressful place. But in your own mind you are in charge. You decide what to think about. You decide when to laugh, you decide what to read, what to listen to, what to think about. So lighten your load with some laughter, fun and relaxation every day.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 12th, 2007 at 3:19 pm and is filed under General Health, Mental Health, Stress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.