A Gallup poll shows that Nevada is one of the top 10 states that are stressed out. The state of Hawaii is the least stressed. Signs of stress can manifest as fatigue, anger, difficulty sleeping, headaches, back and neck pain, to name a few. If you are not living in Hawaii or not catching a plane to vacation there soon, practice a few of these habits to reduce your stress level:
Feel the fear and go for it. Irish statesman Edmund Burke shared, "No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear." How many times have we lamented over doing something? The concern, worry or terror continued to grow bigger until we were immobilized by the fear. When you really want to do something and it is the fear that is holding you back, then acknowledge that you are fearful and do it anyway. The only way to conquer fear is to push through it by taking immediate action.
Establish a regular sleeping schedule. A sound sleep can restore you both mentally and physically. Yet according to national surveys, between 15 and 20 percent of the adult population routinely suffers from insomnia. Chronic insomnia is often triggered by anxiety, but it may persist even after the source of stress is removed. If you cannot fall asleep in 15 to 20 minutes, read until you feel drowsy. No matter when you fall asleep, always get up at the same time.
Learn to let go. Take into account what ancient Greek guru Epictetus wrote: "People are disturbed not by things, but by their perception of things." We all have had experiences in life that we have rewound and reviewed dozens of times in our minds. When we tune into ourselves and listen to our own self-talk we hear some thoughts and feelings that we want to release from our minds. If you are able to turn off your mind chatter at night and fall comfortably asleep, you are already practicing letting go. People who have insomnia often have difficulty letting go of the day's details or upcoming events. The key is to recognize the thought or feeling and consciously let go of it.
Play more often. Playing keeps you laughing and smiling. Even the thought of being playful helps you to be lighthearted and relaxed. Have you come across people who have lost their sense of playfulness? Stress is all over their faces and no one wants to be around them. If you want to enhance your life experience, enjoy some of these stress-reducing playful activities: You can tickle someone, skip down the hall, smile, call a childhood friend, keep a great attitude for an entire day or do any activity that you consider playful. Feel how you are becoming more easy-going, happy and relaxed. Famous comedian Charlie Chaplin was right when he proclaimed, "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
Focus on one thing at a time. Imagine your desk completely empty except for the one item you're working with. Let nothing divert your attention from the task at hand. Do this and you'll be surprised at the clarity you will gain. It also helps to overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Keep your immediate environment organized. This is one of the easiest and most effective stress relievers. You may not be aware of the incredible stress a cluttered work environment can have on you. Wasting time looking for something or even having a mess in your peripheral vision raises your tension. Take the time to get and stay organized. You will love the empowering and relaxed feeling you will have from a continually organized environment.
Choose to live your life. There truly is no good or bad, only our naming of an event makes it so. Never look at getting through a day; instead look at getting from a day. Life is simply a learning experience, so ask, "What can I learn from this and how can I use it to improve my life and the lives of others?" Your experiences are truly that, your experiences. They are what make you unique and special.
Get a pet. Tens of millions of Americans own pets. Pets can reduce stress, as pet owners have known for a long time. Caring for a pet, researchers theorize, can provide a sense of belonging, opportunities for play and entertainment. Studies show that owning a pet, whether it's a dog, cat, bird or fish, can reduce the mild stress levels associated with minor, everyday frustrations. Animal ownership appears to be associated with improved health, lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety and at least a temporary reduction in stress levels.
Do not expect gratitude. It is normal for people to forget to be grateful. Normal does not excuse it; nonetheless, we must learn not to be disappointed by other's lack of manners and instead rejoice when we do occasionally receive a thank you. When you give simply for the joy of giving without expectation of gratitude from the receiver, your spirit grows immensely. That may have been what Benjamin Franklin meant when he mentioned, "Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he will never be disappointed."
Create a positive atmosphere. The atmosphere of attitudes and behaviors surrounding you is nearly as important as the atmosphere surrounding the earth. A positive atmosphere allows you to laugh and learn from mistakes. The best part of being positive is that negative people generally can't stand being around you for too long making room for other positive people to get closer to you.
Keep in mind what famous legendary football coach Vince Lombardi shared, "Success is a habit; unfortunately so is losing." Grab on to at least one of these habits for success to decrease the debilitating effects stress has on your life and the lives of the people you care about.
Best of success to you!
Jeffrey Benjamin is a contributing author in the book, "The Sleeping Giant: The Awakening of the Self Employed Entrepreneur" and the founder of Breakthrough Training. He hosts Breakthrough Radio Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on 99.1 FM Talk. Contact him through www.breakthroughtraining.com.
