Theme of the Day – How to turn Stress and Anxiety into Peace and Calm.
Tips –
- Check in with yourself – what’s triggering the stress? Is it something situational that will change or is this something that you can choose to change yourself?
- Manage your breath – Sounds simple, but it is absolutely critical: pay attention to your breathing. Deep long full breaths bring peace and calm along with them.
- Move! – going for a walk or a quick change of scenery can do wonders for shifting mental perspective.
Execution: Even though with a full tool box of tactics to manage stress, it can be difficult to actually put them into practice. Stress can build up and make me slower in everyday tasks or make me lose focus on completing a job in front of me. I’ve found that the best way to regain focus on what really matters is, if time allows, to step away for a few moments, then come back for a fresh perspective. For example, if I’m finding myself temporarily irritated by a co-worker, sometimes the best way to manage that situation is to take a deep breath, complete whatever interaction I’m having, go for a walk, and then come back. Usually, the brief break will help me to refocus on what really matters – which is doing our best work for the client.
Personal Notes: I’ve noticed that everyday stress can creep into my life and pile up. Daily practices like journaling, reading, and meditation help me to clear away the daily accumulation of irritation that can turn into bigger issues. Ultimately, good self care includes reflection on what’s working and plans in place to upgrade whatever could be better.