The more I talk with colleagues, peers, family members and friends, the more I realize a need for education about stress management. I know that almost everyday, at some point, I feel anxious because of situations that may or may not be within my control. I also know that I am not alone in feeling this way.
When it comes to health, much attention has been paid to fitness, nutrition and weight. I am grateful that there now seem to be more conversations about about how to cope with stress, since it’s been proven that there is a strong link between stress levels and our overall health.
When researching effective stress coping methods, it became clear how important it is that we understand some of these methods before stress happens. Many of these techniques can be done in times of calm and will lessen the amount of stress we experience in the first place.
One such method is having scheduled time for rest and relaxation. For many people, the thought of having “an end in sight” – knowing that there will be a time of calm to come – can take the edge off of a stressful situation. If you know you’ve got some time set aside to relax tomorrow, the events of today will feel less overwhelming.
Another coping method is to take a moment each evening and recognize the accomplishments or the happiest feelings you had in your day by journaling them in just 1-2 sentences. This simple and enjoyable activity can bring perspective about the things that matter most. By making a habit of this, you’ll gain clarity on the positive things that tend to come to the forefront of your mind when you reflect, and you’re more likely to be able to brush off something tomorrow that may not go exactly as you had planned.
Take a look at our Stress Coping Methods Fact Sheet for more details about these techniques, and for more ideas about how to cope with stress.
