Stressed?

Stress is a part and parcel of our daily lives. Stress affects our productivity, lifestyle, health and social relations. Different individuals develop varied mechanisms and solutions to cope up with stress. However, not all methods are healthy or offer a final solution. To endure in the long run, effective and qualitative strategies must be implemented to combat the issue of stress. When deciding which option to choose to combat stress, it is helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, adapt or accept.

There is no definitive principles to combat stress because each individual is unique, however the fundamentals remains the same while dealing with the issue of stress.

Stress management strategy: Avoid unnecessary stress
We must realize that not all kinds of stress could be avoided. It is not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. However, there are incidents where in we invite unnecessary stress into our lives there by complicating our reactions and add pressure to our professional and personal lives. The following points will focus on tips to avoid unnecessary stress.

• Learn to say “no” when required – Never bite more than you can swallow. Know your limits and plan accordingly. Whether in your personal or professional life, taking on more than you can handle is a recipe for stress.
• Avoid people who stress you out – Avoid people or circumstances that add undue stress into your lives. Limit the amount of time you spend with the individual or figure out a permanent solution to tackle the issue.
• Take control of your environment – In many cases the cause of stress is the reluctance to change. Keep the options open and accept and adapt to circumstances with an open mind.
• Avoid hot-button topics – Avoid those topics and situations that can make you upset or irate from social interactions. May it be religion, sport or politics, keep them off from your conversation list as long as it can affect the equilibrium of your tranquillity. If a subject gets you to repeatedly argue with the same interest group, avoid the topic or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
• Focus on your objectives – Analyse your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. Schedule and have clear plan of action for the day. Avoid those tasks that are unproductive or hinders progress of your objectives. Also it is essential not to spend time spreading negativity.

Foot note - Love what you want to promote than attacking what you hate.