Learning to manage self stress is important. For some reason, many women feel like they have to do it all, which can lead to feelings of self stress. Women are all about list making and getting things done. What happens a lot of the time, though, is that the many things on the paper list are nothing compared to the mental lists we carry around. All those pressures – external and internal cause a build up of stress
What is self stress?
Self stress is the stress we allow ourselves to feel over tasks and responsibilities that may or may not be all that important. But once we mentally commit to something, it’s hard to let ourselves down.
Have you ever thought to yourself….no one else is going to fold that basket of laundry that has been sitting there for 3 days? (or something similar – insert anything that works for you) Then that basket of laundry or call to the health insurance ends up on your mental list. Not quite important enough to write down, but you can’t forget about it. No matter how hard you try.
Causes of Stress
We “get stressed” when we feel that the demands placed on us — demands from work, relationships, or school — are more than our capacity to cope. We know that some stress can be beneficial at times, giving us a boost that provides that energy and motivation to get things done.
After talking to quite a few women, there was an obvious common thread – that in addition to the external pressures from work, relationships, school, and household responsibilities, women are very prone to feel inadequate about not doing all the things they have in their head. Seriously, that’s near impossible.
My suggestion is to make a complete list of all the things you have floating around in your head that you feel like you have to get done. Circle the ones that are super important to you and then find the top 3 that you can accomplish. Get a calendar and space out the rest of the things over time – especially the things that no one else is worried about 🙂
Five tips to help manage stress
- Smile and laugh – There are so many hilarious videos and memes online. From cute kittens to babbling babies, make an effort to keep a smile on your face and in your heart.
- Meditate – Meditation will help the mind and body to relax and develop renewed focus. While cleansing the mind meditation can also release emotions that may have been causing the body physical stress. The Calm app is one of my favorite
- Accept your weaknesses – How hard is this?? We work so hard to make things perfect and just so that when we feel like we aren’t making the grade, we put ourselves down. Be real! There is no way anyone is perfect, so let’s agree to stop trying. And, if you’re not good at something – so what?! Delegate that activity to someone else.
- Exercise – Yes, please! Get in 20-30 minutes of physical activity as multiple times a week. Even a 20-minute walk, run, swim or dance jam can give an immediate effect when you bust it out during a stressful situation. It might seem odd, but putting physical stress on your body through exercise can relieve mental stresses.
- Nap – Napping might be a way to reduce your feelings of stress. Go for 10-20 minutes and rest your weary brain.
Practice Daily Gratitude
Exercise, mindfulness, and music can all work to reduce stressful feelings and can help to improve your overall work-life balance as well. A super easy way to relieve mental stresses may be to start and/or end your day with a gratitude list. Take 5-10 minutes each day to write down 5-10 things you’re grateful for from that day. Gratitude may help relieve mental stress by focusing your thoughts on what’s positive in your life.