Each step counts

Renee Singh

From time to time we need to address the concept of stress management within us. It is an ongoing process you need to keep track of. It is important that you should have an overall plan for managing your stress and not allow your stress levels to rise high before you start handling them. I feel the need to talk about the available recourses for handling most of the stressful situations. 

Maintaining balance 

This is the most important aspect of stress management.  We need to create a lifestyle in sync with our values, a schedule to create health promoting habits. We need to understand how to deal with the negatives life puts us on the platter and move our perspective according to our challenges. Yet many a time we realise that despite all our efforts stress is throwing us off balance. 

We must understand that we need to regroup and make adjustments to constantly create a new state of balance in our lives according to our changing circumstances. Although we know this we still get surprised by the level of adjustment which is required or we even constantly get into a self blame game within our own selves.

 We like to believe that balance should come easily and immediately.  

Minor challenges 

These also sometimes call for small adjustments. Each time we take up a new activity or deal with a new situation we take up these adjustments. It could be anything ranging from dealing with a new relationship or even lack of sleep. 

Toxic stressors

Sometimes we get knocked down by unexpected stressors and getting centred could require serious adjustments. Staying down however is a choice we are free to make. 

Regaining balance 

Use the following techniques to set your balance right

Meditation helps

1. Even a few minutes will reinstate your level of calm and balance 
2. Different techniques can be used to describe stress and maintain a level of calm

Get together

Brainstorming sessions with friends sometimes could be the most rewarding and relaxing experience. 

Change perspective 

Allow the situation to be. You know when you cannot change it.  You can change your way of looking at things. Shift to a more important optimistic view.

Let go of negative people 

Identify the people in your life who create stressful situations for you. Minimise their role in your life. 

Make time for self 

Spending time with self is the biggest stress reliever. As we are constantly running we need to build energy.  

Resilience towards stress

You need to always make a conscious effort to make stress management a part of your life. This will make you resilient towards the effects of stress in your life.

(Singh is a Chandigarh-based psychotherapist)