Top Ways to Manage Stress

                       Keep to a Schedule 

When you are under stress, it is important to keep your body on a schedule so your daily rhythms are not disrupted.  If you are having problems sleeping, it can take three or four weeks to get your body back to a normal schedule, but stick with it and you can do it.   Set up a healthful bedtime and a reasonable time to wake in the morning, and stick to it. 

        Try not to watch TV as you go to sleep.   

Just turn out the lights and relax.  Get into a comfortable position and try to use the same position to go to sleep every night.  This will help your mind and body to adjust to the idea!  Relax your muscles and breathe deeply, pulling air into your abdomen. 

Take long, deep breaths and consciously tell your muscles to relax, starting with your neck, jaw, and shoulders and working your way down to your feet.  If you can not fall asleep after forty-five minutes or so, get up and read for a while. 

Do not do anything that is ‘stimulating’ (exercise, watching an exciting movie or playing video games).  After you ready for 20-30 minutes, go back to bed and try again.  Try to avoid getting frustrated.  Calmly get into your sleep position and again do some deep breathing and relax your muscles.  Eventually, you will get your body back on track. 

                               Take Breaks 

Plan and give yourself several breaks per day.  They can be as short as five minutes to walk to the rest room, get a cup of coffee and chat with a friend, but DO IT. 

Take more forgiving breaks by planning a day where you can consciously reduce your stress by doing less.  Whatever is on your ‘To Do’ list for that day, take off a few non-critical items from the bottom and move them to another day, so you have more time for yourself. 

Plan at least one day during each week where you do something you love to do.  Whether it is visiting with friends, going to a movie, reading a book or taking a hike, you NEED A BREAK! 

                 Focus on the Big Picture 

Be sure to consider all your obligations and do not get tunnel vision.  Try to keep all obligations on one calendar if you can, so you can quickly see where you are overbooked. 

If you typically host Sunday dinner or that family birthday party, see if someone else can do it this week or this month.  Do not commit to things others can do just because you feel you are obligated to take on the task.  Let others share the load. 

You can delegate small tasks or simpler projects to employees, children, and associates.  Bring ‘small business-bought’ cookies to the potluck instead of baking two dozen cookies at midnight. 

Keep the BIG duties foremost in your mind and be sure you have time for those larger or longer-term obligations.  The rest will take care of itself if you do not feel you MUST say ‘yes’ to every request.

                            Limit Changes 

During times of stress, try to limit the amount of important change in your life.  If you do not have to look for a new car now, do not take on that task.  Do not schedule a move to a new apartment or house or to a new school if it is not necessary. 

Give yourself a chance to adjust to the changes you are already feeling or to the new stressors and THEN decide what new changes you can take on and when. 

Much stress comes from that sense of lost control.  Keep control of the things you CAN manage so you are not overwhelmed.  Where you have choices, make them consciously.  Do not just let life run over you!

                         Watch the Clock 

Set limits on the time you spent at work or in any activity that is demanding or stressful, and stick to those limits.  If you do not HAVE TO STAY at the small business that extra hour, resist the temptation to finish that one last report, and GO HOME. 

Guard and schedule your time off blocks just as you would your meetings at work.  Do not nibble away at your off time by working on weekends although you should be enjoying time with your family. 

If you can leave the laptop at work, DO SO!  If you can leave the papers in the briefcase, do that too!  Remember that you will never run out of work to do, but you WILL run out of time to watch your children grow up and to experience the good things in life.