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3 Simple Secrets to Manage Stress
Stress can be caused by a number of situational factors, but if
you find you have constant stress in your life on a regular
basis, it could be due to your own personality traits.
Fortunately, these traits can be changed with three simple
strategies to manage stress.
First, consider whether or not you are prone to perfectionism.
Overly critical parents or teachers during your youth may have
caused you to strive for complete perfectionism, which is not
necessarily a good thing. Most perfectionists are frustrated and
have high stress levels. Many are procrastinators because of the
overwhelming effort it takes to do something perfectly. Of
course, some professions demand perfectionism, such as surgeons
and rocket scientists, but for most of us, perfectionism is
misdirected energy.
Instead of demanding perfectionism from yourself and others,
learn to focus your energy and leave well enough alone. Consider
whether a task, job or action can be considered "good enough"
without the need to be perfect. This strategy will remove a
great deal of pressure off your shoulders and lower your overall
stress level throughout your life.
Next, practice letting go. Learning to let go is more of an art
than a science, and it's best practiced in small, manageable
steps. Again, if you have a tendency towards perfectionism,
don't expect yourself to change (or be perfect and being
not-perfect) overnight. Give yourself some space, and start with
baby steps, gradually working your way towards being more
relaxed.
If you are a perfectionist in most areas of your life, take
inventory of your life and see where you can afford not to be
perfect. For example, maybe the laundry can be folded a little
sloppier than usual, and maybe the garden doesn't have to be
completely free of weeds at all times. Recognize that certain
tasks require more attention to detail than others, and use good
judgment in determining what areas of your life can handle your
"letting go." The less you feel you need to control completely,
the more stress you can remove from your life.
Finally, get yourself centered. This doesn't mean you have to
take yoga five days per week or meditate for an hour a day, but
it does mean you have take some time to unwind. Make a list of
five ways you can relax on a weekly or daily basis and post the
list somewhere you can see it regularly. Do whatever helps you
unwind--grab a glass of wine after work with a few friends, read
a book, take a bubble bath, go for a walk outside, etc.
If your life is supremely hectic, you may be able to unwind by
simply getting five quiet minutes alone once a day. Whatever it
takes for you to find a quiet place and unwind is necessary to
relieve stress and return to a normal state. These three
strategies can help you manage stress, focus your energy and get
back on the path to success.
About the author:
For more than 15 years, Amy Scott Grant has harnessed the power
of public speaking and coaching to help people manage time, set
and achieve powerful goals, reduce or eliminate stress and find
balance their lives. For more free information and articles
about stress reduction, visit New Success at
http://NewSuccess.org. For a fool-proof method for eliminating
stress from your life, visit The Success Method at
http://TheSuccessMethod.com
Written by: Amy Scott Grant
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