Pointers to Reduce Stress
Recently a marketing coach said to us, when you make a list of things to do for the day or week, don’t stretch yourself. Make a shorter list rather than longer. While it may defy what others teach, his reasoning was pointing out how you feel when you fail to complete the list. Rather than feeling great that you accomplished as much as you did, your failure can deflate you.
I think he’s applying an excellent general principle here about how we live on a daily basis. We may not all have written lists but many of us have a list for the day in our mind. Like good obedient followers, we often stay true to that list, doing one thing after another.
My best example of this is preparing a meal for company. I usually plan on too many dishes and usually dishes I haven’t tried before. As I’m prepping and cooking and time is running out, the stress builds as the list isn’t getting completed. My brain begins to feel pressured. I’m getting impatient and short. Concentrating so much and feeling the stress, I hold my breath and barely breathe.
Then I discover in the middle of this pressure cooker situation to let go. Awareness first shows me my situation: I’m stressed. I look at the list and start crossing things out. Sigh. Then the remaining tasks became manageable. I can breathe again and even enjoy what I’m doing. After all, that is the whole point for my putting on dinner for someone, isn’t it?
So here are the steps to reduce your stress:
• Notice the long list of obligations or tasks you’ve set up for yourself.
• To be pro-active you can be realistic and shorten the list. Or prioritize it so the last items can be left for another day.
• Before you even start the day, do you have breaks, fun things, choices for self-care on the list? Do you make your well-being a priority?
• As you doing your chosen errands or chores, notice whether you’re feeling any pressure or stress. (Are you impatient? Are you being pleasant to everyone?
Are you checking your watch? Do you feel tension or pain any where in your body?)
• Review the list again half way through your day and ask yourself, how important are the rest of the items? Do you really need to do them today?
• If getting through this list is no fun, consider how you think about your life and what’s important for you. If what is important precludes your joy, what is your life about in the end?
The recommendations are clearly not for the super-achievers among us. Yet, these ambitious people too may consider that how they accomplish their responsibilities may be an important reminder that quality may supersede quantity.
On most days I have the possibility of creating a very long list of things to do. Yet for me it’s important how I live and work. It’s important to have time and space for breathing, for joy and inspiration. I keep these in mind as I’m working on my current project as an affiliate marketer. Please look for me on the Internet.
Anne Uemura, Ph.D.
admin@http://www.swivelsweeperg2reviews.com
Processing your request, Please wait....
