Top Five Stress Reduction Tips!

How are you? How are you doing? No really… how are you?

You may be reading this blog on an overwhelming Tuesday morning… escaping, if just for a few minutes, your inbox flags, your to-do lists, or your errands.

Welcome… while this post may not instantaneously reduce your stress or lower your blood pressure, it will equip you with tips and how-to’s for better managing your stress. Because when asked how you’re doing, you may in fact be stressed. Just a guess, and of course I could be wrong, but a good majority of the people I work with are struggling with stress and its effects on their lives. With the hustle and bustle of life, you may feel over extended, over worked, and over committed. Unfortunately, stress is often an inescapable concept of being a grown-up aka “adulting”.

Below are the top 5 stress reduction tips… these are solid ideas and beautiful concepts you could challenge yourself to incorporate, which can make a big difference over time.

• Be present. Take a moment to ask yourself, “who is running my life?” Make sure you are the one in charge of your life so you be present for what matters the most. Recognize when you’re overwhelmed, over-booked, and over-worked. The more present you are in your current situation, the more self-aware you’ll become. Soon, you’ll be able to recognize warning signs and key contributors of stress and worry. Through that, you can scale back, tone down and ultimately tune out for a quick re-charge (which may in fact be long overdue considering we are quickly approaching June and you may have not had any time off or you time since the Holidays…six months ago).

• Be grateful. While this can be challenging in the faces of stress, doom and all other negative clouds that surround your overwhelming aura, try to appreciate the things you have. Go to bed at night and be grateful for what is going right in your life. For your dog, your health, your car, your spouse, your friends, your children, the meal you may have just devoured. Show grace and gratitude, because what we focus on magnifies. You have people in your corner. I’m reminded by a recent post on Instagram it’s better to want what we have rather than dwell on what we don’t have…#zen #peace #gratitude

• Talk positively to yourself. Positive self-talk is a phenomenal concept and works across the board in terms of bolstering your self-esteem, bringing a sense of comfort when going through a tough spot, or motiving to push through a difficult situation. What you say to yourself, in your private moments, is reverberated throughout your brain and body. And if you continually beat yourself up, you will continuously feel low. YOU CAN DO THIS. YOU ARE WONDERFUL. YOU ARE WORTH IT. Don’t worry, you don’t look insane saying these things out load while driving in your car or looking in your bathroom mirror, lol. Truly, you are wonderful.

• Establish boundaries. Over-committing yourself is a sure-fire way to end up with no time to engage in self-care or even unwind a bit before the next week begins. It’s ok to say no; you do not have eight arms. You cannot be in four places at once. Try your best, and remember to take it one day, one task at a time. Establishing boundaries can allow for deeper, more genuine relationships to form, not only with others but with yourself. You can be true to your word and not overbook a Wednesday night.

• Live well. While this seems to be a little trite, it’s worth noting the incredible importance of living a truly healthy life. Getting the right amount of sleep is essential to how well or not-very-well you will function come the morning. Eating a balanced diet will duel your day. Balance being the operative word here: if you feel like a cheeseburger, eat a cheeseburger. But skip the glass of wine at dinner and steam some broccoli the next night. Everything in moderation… Try to exercise. Movement is the celebration of life. Exercise is worth the endorphins. Trust me, they do wonders for your mind and body….

I wish you well on your journey to de-stress and unwind. I work with a lot of individuals and couples going through stressful situations. Together, we can get through it. Call Dr. Kate Campbell, LMFT at 954-391-5305 ext. 1 to schedule your first appointment with me. I offer stress management therapy, anxiety treatment, and anxiety therapy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.