At this time of year people are very stressed. I would like to provide you with some tools to deal with stressful situations.

Stress is the inability to adapt to a changing environment.

I would like to make a distinction between stress and anxiety. The difference is that stress is a reality, for example you have a stressful problem at work. Anxiety has to do with worries or fears.

When we are stressed (have anxiety) we are either fearing losing that which we seek, or fearing gaining that which we avoid.

If you are living within your highest value (see my value determination blog) with the balanced perspective (Breakthrough facilitation) and realistic expectations you will have the greatest resilience. You will see that you need both challenges and support to succeed.

You should group the things that cause you stress into three categories: firstly those with practical solutions, secondly those that will improve with time and thirdly those that you can’t do anything about. Let go of the stress you have for things in the last two categories. Reevaluate your lifestyle and try to scale down.

Here are some coping methods:

Social support. Share your stress with a friend or coach who can help you perceive your situations in a new light.

Cognitive restructuring. Change your perception about the situation, the way that you are thinking about it. This can be done through the Breakthrough facilitation. Seeing both positive and negative in a situation can help you to perceive it clearly.

Physical exercise takes 30 minutes of your day to lower your cortisol level. You can do yoga or go for a walk in nature.

Meditation. Daily quiet time is a good stress reliever. There are lots of apps that can help you meditate.

Take a deep breath. Your breathing rhythm influences your emotions and your stress levels.

Try and perceive the situation from both points of view or both the positive and the negative of the situation.

Ground yourself. Try and do five things to ground yourself like touch something, listen to something, taste something, smells something.

Some more tips:

• Be aware of your stress triggers.
• Develop healthy reactions.
• Set boundaries and decrease the pressure in your life.
• Take time to recharge.
• Learn to relax.
• Get a support group.
• Manage your time properly and put time aside for yourself.
• Do some volunteering.
• Prioritize your day.
• Be Positive.
• Accept the things that you cannot change.

Please contact me for more advise on how to deal with stress.