Stress can be caused by a
number of situational factors,
but if you find you have constant
stress in your life on a regular
basis, it could be due to your
own personality traits.
Fortunately, these traits can be
changed with three simple
strategies to manage stress.
First, consider whether or not
you are prone to perfectionism.
Overly critical parents or
teachers during your youth may
have caused you to strive for
complete perfectionism, which is
not necessarily a good thing.
Most perfectionists are
frustrated and have high stress
levels. Many are procrastinators
because of the overwhelming
effort it takes to do something
perfectly. Of course, some
professions demand perfectionism,
such as surgeons and rocket
scientists, but for most of us,
perfectionism is misdirected
energy.
Instead of demanding
perfectionism from yourself and
others, learn to focus your
energy and leave well enough
alone. Consider whether a task,
job or action can be considered
"good enough" without the need to
be perfect. This strategy will
remove a great deal of pressure
off your shoulders and lower your
overall stress level throughout
your life.
Next, practice letting go.
Learning to let go is more of an
art than a science, and it's best
practiced in small, manageable
steps. Again, if you have a
tendency towards perfectionism,
don't expect yourself to change
(or be perfect and being
not-perfect) overnight. Give
yourself some space, and start
with baby steps, gradually
working your way towards being
more relaxed.
If you are a perfectionist in
most areas of your life, take
inventory of your life and see
where you can afford not to be
perfect. For example, maybe the
laundry can be folded a little
sloppier than usual, and maybe
the garden doesn't have to be
completely free of weeds at all
times. Recognize that certain
tasks require more attention to
detail than others, and use good
judgment in determining what
areas of your life can handle
your "letting go." The less you
feel you need to control
completely, the more stress you
can remove from your life.
Finally, get yourself
centered. This doesn't mean you
have to take yoga five days per
week or meditate for an hour a
day, but it does mean you have
take some time to unwind. Make a
list of five ways you can relax
on a weekly or daily basis and
post the list somewhere you can
see it regularly. Do whatever
helps you unwind--grab a glass of
wine after work with a few
friends, read a book, take a
bubble bath, go for a walk
outside, etc.
If your life is supremely
hectic, you may be able to unwind
by simply getting five quiet
minutes alone once a day.
Whatever it takes for you to find
a quiet place and unwind is
necessary to relieve stress and
return to a normal state. These
three strategies can help you
manage stress, focus your energy
and get back on the path to
success.
