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BOOSTING YOUR ODDS FOR SUSTAINED STRESS REDUCTION
Les,
I’ve tried a lot of things to relax over the years like exercise, yoga and meditation. Not surprisingly, they have all worked, but because they take some time and effort, I haven’t continued to use them. It’s a lot easier to take a pill to relax than to take a walk in the park, but I’d rather take breaks than Xanex. Can you offer any ways to keep the stress management going on a regular basis?
Isabella
Hi Isabella,
Here are some ideas to get you back on the road to ongoing stress reduction:
Schedule your stress management
You’re right, stress breaks like lunch, yoga, walks and workouts do take time, so put them in your planner or PDA. They are just as important, if not more so, than the meetings, doctor’s appointments and dates that you already enter. Give your stress-reduction efforts this stature, too, rather than relegating them to nice things to do if you’ve got the time. And remember to consider your interests, schedule and other responsibilities for a more realistic and doable stress reduction plan.
Break up your stressors
Unless you’re in a pie-eating contest, you probably cut these tarts into a number of pieces, eating each slice over time until the pastry is no more. Think of all your stress as one big pie, then divide it up into more mentally and physically manageable slices to increase the likelihood that you’ll deal with them. If your list includes unwieldy stress blobs like work and school, similarly break them up into smaller stressors such as staff meetings and meeting deadlines which may be easier to handle and address.
Team up
Tell friends, relatives and colleagues about your stress-reduction efforts. Identify people who are interested in your well-being and ask them to check up on your progress, or partner with you when you walk, workout, or whatever. Support groups and individual counseling can also serve as companions that motivate consistent stress management.
You know that medication is stiff competition for meditation and the other techniques you’ve used. You also know from experience that the non-prescription strategies work, lack addiction risks, and are often fast-acting and free. Reminding yourself of your past successes with them may also motivate you to reach for your mantra instead of the medicine cabinet.
Les
6/07
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