Got Stress?

RANDom thought: stress is good for us, until it’s not

In this blog, I am offering advice. However, many of us need to seek medical attention or see a therapist if we are experiencing long-term stress. This blog is one simple technique you may try but is in no way offering medical advice.

Stress:
A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances

When we are under a certain amount of pressure or tension, we often do our best work. When we know we must get something done or have a deadline to meet, it causes us to be focused and intentional. This can be a good form of stress. Another example is when we react in an emergency. I can quickly respond in an emergency and seem very calm and controlled until it is over. Then I fall apart. When I have a speech to give, the stress drives me to perform, but I often find myself shaking as soon as it is over! Does this happen to you?

On the other hand, when we have long-term stress…think covid, political climate, and the social issues we have been facing for the past two years…stress can have adverse effects. We may find ourselves unable to focus, putting off difficult tasks, eating unhealthily, not sleeping well, and other symptoms.
One way to deal with stress is to breathe! I am sure you are thinking, well, I do that naturally. But I am not talking about breathing normally just for survival. I am talking about breathing to reduce stress. I am a certified mindfulness-based stress reduction guide, and I know that focused breathing can reduce stress immediately.
Here is a method for stress reduction. Try it and let me know how it works for you.

STOP:
S: Stop and notice how you are feeling. Slow down before you react
T: Take three to four deep breaths. Breathe in on a count of 2-4 and breath out for double the time. Slow and steady.
O: Observe and notice what is going on in your body and your mind. Do not judge. Just notice.
P: Proceed, but only when ready. If you are not prepared, remove yourself from the situation and breath more until you feel calm.

This simple technique may help you deal with the daily stress in your life. Of course, daily mediation is also a beneficial technique, but that often stresses people out. That will be a topic for another day.

For today, just breathe!

I will discuss this topic more on FB live at my Career Cultivators page on Thursday at 4:30. Join me there!

Also, check out this week’s podcast for more on this subject.