Your Life and My Life WILL HAVE STRESS. That is a guarantee in life. However, there are some basic tactics we can apply to our life to manage the stress that comes our way. How we handle the stress in our life will help us to live a life without regret. Typically, when we fail to handle stress appropriately, we make unwise decisions that will leave us with feelings of regret. Here are five simple tactics to use daily to handle stress.
Get Outside
Take a hike, ride your bike, go to the forest and explore for a few hours, or sit by a wooded stream. The health benefits of being in nature are numerous, and according to the New York State Dept. of Health, being in nature can help you get healthier.
Numerous studies in the U.S. and around the world are exploring the health benefits of spending time outside in nature, green spaces, and, specifically, forests. Recognizing those benefits, in 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries even coined a term for it: shinrin-yoku. It means taking in the forest atmosphere or “forest bathing,” and the ministry encourages people to visit forests to relieve stress and improve health.
Pray and Meditate
Countless studies demonstrate the positive effects of prayer on the physical/mental health of an individual struggling with stress, depression, or anxiety. Peter Boelens, a Doctor in Vicksburg, Mississippi, conducted studies on the positive effects of prayer.
“For one hour a week for six weeks, 27 men and women engaged in person-to-person prayer sessions during which they prayed with a Christian minister without making any physical contact. They prayed for forgiveness, and they prayed for god to heal their stresses.
Everyone in the study met the DSM criteria for depressive disorder, and many of them had anxiety too. At the end of six weeks, their self-reported scores on the Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and Anxiety had all gone down. They also showed increases on a “Life Orientation Test” that tests for optimism and a “Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale,” compared to a control group who received no intervention at all.”
Do Difficult Things with Excellence
We live in the age of entitlement, and depending on the day of the week or the issues you (and I) face, we can act like entitled jerks. When we live with that attitude (Denying responsibility for our choices and demanding special treatment), the stress in our life WILL increase. Dr. John Townsend says we need to work hard, do tough things, and do things the right way; this will bring down our stress and cure our issue of entitlement.
Stop Checking Social Media
Go ahead and post the funny photo or share that wisdom quote. But don’t get emotionally attached to your social media account. What I mean is this, do not make life about what is happening on social media. I have blogged about this before, so – take a sabbatical – take a day off of social media each week. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children and adults can actually go through a “Facebook Depression” because of how they use (or overuse) social media.
Be Better Today Than You Were Yesterday
Never stop learning and growing. The problems you are facing in your life today will require MORE insight to overcome. What got you to this point in your life will not get you to the next point – you have to learn, adjust, adapt, and acquire new skills. I think Henry Ford once said, “If you always do what you have always done you always get what you always have gotten.” Be better tomorrow than you were today. Expect more from yourself. One of my favorite quotes is from Pastor Craig Groeschel; “Do today what you can do today, so you can do tomorrow what you cannot do today.”
It’s Time For Life Coaching
We’ve all been there, overstressed and overwhelmed. Schedule a free consultation today and see if working with Terry is right for you. There is no obligation to start. Start owning your life today. Call now.
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