Our friends at Duo have come up with 11 steps for managing stress;
1. Plan
Make to-do lists with your highest priority tasks first.
2. Delegate
You can’t do everything on your own. Outsourcing the tasks that can easily and efficiently be done by others will open you up to tackle the more difficult ones with more time and energy.
3. Learn to say “no”
This seems simple, but knowing and sticking to your limits is often the most difficult act to maintain.
4. Write down your goals
This causes you to clearly articulate them and keeps you more accountable than if they were simply floating around in your mind.
5. Stop wasting time
There are so many things which distract us from achieving our goals. Twitter or Facebook may be one of these things, so minimise the time spent on them! Turn off notifications or use apps that prevent you from accessing Facebook while you’re working.
6. Rest well
Set a “technology-free” time – this will allow you to wind down in the evening and will enable you to spend quality time with family and friends. If you want to get a good night’s sleep, doing this 1 hour before bed is also recommended.
7. Avoid and/or reduce the use of toxic substances
Rather than turning to alcohol, tobacco, sugar and caffeine to fight stress, why not go for a run instead? Becoming less dependent on these substances will minimise the stress they impose on your body. Stress affects your hormonal balance, digestion and inflammatory processes.
8. Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins
Choosing organic and free-range meats and vegetables free of chemicals and hormones protect your body from external chemicals that can affect your body’s ability to perform.
TIP: Always check the ingredients If you can’t pronounce something listed, there’s a good chance it’s refined or genetically modified and should be avoided.
9. Take a balanced approach to exercise
Limiting yourself to three or four sessions of high intensity training a week will keep you from over doing it.
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You can also talk to our friends at Stark's Fitness.
10. Meditate daily
Meditation and mindfulness can help you focus and quiet your mind. Improving your levels of awareness and inner peace can help you manage your levels of internal and external stress. Make an effort to practice at least 10 minutes every day. Maintaining consistency and incorporating meditation into your daily routine will help you reap the most of this practice.
11. Avoid unnecessary stressors
You may find that certain people and situations add to the causes of chronic stress. Be mindful of your commitments and consider how they will affect the overall stress levels in your life.
For more information on how to manage and reduce stress take a look at mentalhealth.org.
We are definitely in the mood for relaxation! Take a look at our S.F. Retreats here!
