Stress Management and Mastery: 3 Tools You Can Use

Q:We recently had someone come to our company to talk about stress management. All he did was talk about the physical results of stress and tell us we need to not be so stressed and to relax. It really wasn't very helpful, and I was wondering if you could offer some tips on how to handle stress.

A:You've run into a problem I see all too often in the field of stress management, as well as in any other area that involves change.

Anyone can describe the problem for you, sometimes in great detail. Then a few others can describe the problem and tell you what you should do about it. What you need is someone to tell you the how of managing stress.

Three Tools

To get you started on managing stress, here are three tools that you can use right away.

Tool of relaxation.

Here's something I call push-button relaxation. Picture yourself somewhere that is very relaxing and peaceful. See, hear and feel everything as if you were there. Create your own personal button to create this picture/feeling. For some people it's a snap of the fingers, others use a word or phrase - whatever quickly takes you there in your imagination. Use your push-button when you're feeling stress and notice the difference.

Tool of battle.

This does not mean grab your sword and shield. It does mean to pick your battles wisely. It's vital to ask: Is this a battle worth fighting?

Many of us tend to major in minor things. We let too many little things upset us. The more you ask this question, the less you'll have needless battles, and you'll have less stress and more energy.

Tool of fun and spontaneity.

We've just about killed off fun and spontaneity with our over-scheduled, day-planner-run lives. I've even seen one friend's daily schedule that had a 15-minute block that reminded him to "have fun."

Here's my challenge to you: Sometime in the next week, do something spontaneous and fun.

If you really want to mamage and master stress, use all three of these tools.

For more tips and tools to manage and master stress visit Tools for Successful Living

---

Stress Management: Ditch Thinking or Destination Thinking

Imagine driving down the road. You are driving with a... Read More

Occupational Stress

Statistics tell us that more people have migraine headaches on... Read More

Stress Management - Overcoming Adversity

Adversity is an unavoidable part of life. Death of a... Read More

Beating Middle of the Night Stress

What do you do when you wake up in the... Read More

Myth Busting: What Causes Mental Breakdown?

I came out of a nightmare 5-year period of anxiety... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home

Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More

Stress Management

The fast pace of life is taking toll on every... Read More

Permission to Play

At what age does the benefit of play cease? Child... Read More

5 Top Tips To Boost Your Spirits

1. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a... Read More

Reduce The Stress!

First, let's make a distinction between pressure and stress. We... Read More

Tame Your Work Stress

Work stress has become a major problem today. The nature... Read More

Stress Management and Mastery: How to Learn from Mistakes

Q. I've been told that I need to learn from... Read More

The Best Stress Relief and Its Free!

"Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the... Read More

Stress Management and Mastery: Practicing Perspective

Q. I wonder if you could help me with a... Read More

Overcome the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Stress

Workplace stress is on the rise and it's costing corporate... Read More

How Stressed Out Are You? Take This Quiz And See How You Rate On Your Stress Level!

Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More

Rested? The Three Keys to Finding True Rest, Just in Case

What do you think of when you see that word?... Read More

Unmanaged Stress Kills and Ruins Lives! Sit a Bit

When I pay attention, I clearly see the arresting ways... Read More

Stress Management: 5 Questions to Get Crisis to Work for You

Q: Someone told me that the Chinese symbol for crisis... Read More

Stress Management: Medical Risks of Stress

What is Stress?Stress may be defined as the three-way relationship... Read More

How to Relieve Stress

One question that is not asked enough by people under... Read More

3 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More

[Emotional Health] Are You Feeling In Control?

When it is all said and done, do you feel... Read More

Stress In The Workplace

According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions' (A.C.T.U.) 1997... Read More

Breathe Out Negativity And Stress!

If you have never tried combining your breathing exercises with... Read More

Stress Management and Mastery: Watch Your Language

"Watch your language."We all heard this admonition as kids and... Read More

Discover The Wisdom of Letting Go

When a great Zen Master returned to his country after... Read More

Stress Management: Are You a Chooser or a Loser?

Author and speaker H. Stephen Glenn has said,"In terms of... Read More

A 2-Minute Stress Buster

Meditation seems to have arrived in the mainstream of late,... Read More

Anger Management Practice: The Gift of Forgiveness

This anger management Practice draws on the dual wisdom of... Read More

Workaholism: 4 Universal Laws for Recovery

The Rule of BalanceThere is more to life than work.... Read More

7 Solutions for Practical Stress Management

Stress is amazingly persistent, even seductive. We get used to... Read More

Create Your Own Home Spa

No need to go spend money at a spa! There... Read More