Four Fail-proof Ways To Cope With Stress In Today's Society

Coping with stress:

As you may have realized by now, stress has major implications for our overall health: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually (not so much in the religious sense). How we cope or deal with stressors is personal.  There is no singular right way for dealing with stress, but being equipped with the proper tools is essential to your recovery.  Knowing yourself, being assertive and proactive, self-care and love, setting goals and learning and practicing problem-solving techniques are pivotal. The rest you must figure out on your own as you come across different situations and given your personal preferences: taking actions, finding peer support or using distraction.

Here are four tax-free resources or skills you have within your personal power to cope with or control stress: physical, mental/intellectual, emotional/social and spiritual.

Physical – things you can do with your body whenever you are feeling tense:

Conscious controlled deep breathing exercises to help you calm down

Simply lie or sit in a relaxed position with your eyes closed: now slowly fill your lungs with the breath of life.  In through your nostrils for seven, expanding your abdomen, hold for 4 counts and exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of seven. (Repeat for 5 minutes or until you feel calm)

You can also:

• Pump it out – pumping your fists or using a stress-ball
• Stretch and roll it out – arms, shoulders, neck, back and legs
• Walk, jog or run it out – helps you escape for a bit and boost your endorphins

Mental – What you think about any situation creates more of it. 

Meditation can help to settle your mind and bring clarity to your situation.  It puts you in control of your thoughts and steers you in the direction of what to focus on.  Whenever there is a thought that challenges your focus, you have the power and authority within you to shut it down.  There is, however, a lot of controversies around meditations so do your research first and see if you can find one that sits well with you.  You can chant a mantra or visualize how you would like to feel calling on all your senses.  Create a mental oasis from all the hustle and bustle and all the drama and let your mind take you to that place of peace and tranquility.

Emotional – People need people—love somebody.  No man is an island. 

People and pets are our greatest assets in life; leverage them to your advantage, but learning social skills are important when dealing with people.  It is advantageous to understand social cues, body language, assertiveness and basic etiquette. With that said, spending more time with people should be the goal; not shying away. The best way to learn social graces is to have a first-hand experience.  Yes, you will make a few faux pas' but learn from them and let it go! Find someone whose flare and style you aspire to and mimic him or her.

Spiritual – this involves knowing yourself on a deeper level and understanding the meaning of life.

Knowing what’s important to you, as an individual, is extremely critical especially in dealing with stress.  Knowing, understanding and appreciating your values, strengths and weaknesses will keep you grounded and gives you a sense of direction and meaning when it matters most.  This will help to facilitate your insight and raise your own awareness in certain situations.  Learning to pray and/or finding ways to connect with your life Source is a definite benefit as well. Since we did not put energy (life) in our body, we certainly must give thanks and adoration for it.  Yes indeed, gratitude and appreciation for life and beauty help us cope with stress.

Other things you can do to combat stress are:

• Stay focused on your personal goals
• Laugh at yourself
• Watch comedy
• Adjust your lifestyle, work or financial situation
• Use a checklist to track tasks
• Get enough sleep, rest and relaxation
• Stay hydrated
• Take a hot shower/bath
• Find someone you can relate with, and vice versa
• Get a coach/mentor
• Join a support group
• Stay connected with your cheerleaders
• Volunteer occasionally
• Give in sometimes
• Do one thing at a time
• Keep your home and work space clutter free
• Do what you love
• Talk it out before it becomes a problem
• Reduce the intake of caffeine, sugar, salt, flour, fat, alcohol and tobacco
• Read 
• Journal
• Exercise
• Forgive
• Talk to your family doctor or therapist if you have one

Remember, stress is a fact of life. Create a great relationship with it and don't let it boss you around. Find out what are the three greatest culprits of stress. Please feel to share your preferred method of coping with stress.

Until next time,
This is AggieStrong V!
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Andrene Gregory is a life coach with certification in LifeSkills training and Personality Dimensions. She helps empower adults to live a strength-based life, regain their confidence and find the courage to get through life's challenging situations. Her unique approach to getting desired results includes personality assessment, self-knowledge, goal setting, and action planning.

Andrene provides one-on-one coaching and group workshops. Find out more at www.aggiestrongulc.com.