Tips on Reducing Stress to Prevent Anxiety During the Holidays

These days it's popular to obsess about our faults and insecurities and limits, of course it is, but it does nothing to move you forward.  And if you happen to stall there, that’s the feeling of “being stuck,” and unable to move forward.  That alone causes added stress and anxiety.  Your limited beliefs will always be there. The question is: do they win, or do you?  Do you rise to the calling of your greatness and service in your heart, or do you routinely shrink back to the thought of what limits you?  Magic resides within you. So live it.

 Do you rise to the calling of greatness in your heart, or do you routinely shrink back to the thought of what limits you?

The temptation to become disappointed, disenchanted and discouraged is real. The remedy to stress is clear: don’t give up on you!

Stress is a legitimate mental condition that can have serious debilitating effects by manifesting in many ways, some physical and others not so recognizable.  High levels of stress are indeed measurable, and the end result?  Self sabotage or worse, pre-mature aging.  Once and for all take an active stand against allowing stress into your life in the first place, and put the advice in this article to work for you in your efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle with greater peace of mind so you can relax and truly enjoy this time of year.

First of all, figure out the main cause of your stress, and see if you can find ways to reduce or eliminate it.  One of the best ways is simply by saying “no” especially to other people’s demands for your time and attention.  Eliminating over commitment is one of the easiest ways to minimize stress and improve performance.  For example, if you've got a friend or co-worker who creates stressful situations for you with demands on your time and attention, segment the amount time you allow for them in advance if you can.  You may even want to distance yourself from them, or stay far away from that person all together.  Who cares what other people might think?  Getting rid of all the large sources of stress in your life will improve your overall attitude, your outlook on life, and your health.  

Simply say no...

Any time you feel stress welling up, you should think about what makes you happy, what fulfills you, and what you want to get done… not what others want you to do for them. Positive and ambitious thoughts can create the proper balance of chemicals in your body so that you can improve your mood on demand.  Too much of a good thing can be just as harmful as well.  Exercise; although it’s a great way to reduce stress can also be used as a way to avoid what causes your stress in the first place.  So keep that in perspective.   

TIP! You may need to see a doctor because anxiety can be too much to deal with on your own. You may want to consider seeking assistance from a professional.

Try minimizing stress by managing your time better.  There is truth in the saying, “Early to bed and early to rise.”  When you are always rushing to get things done, multi-tasking, your body is under constant physiological stress, and believe it or not, the body pushes back just as hard in ways that are hard to understand.  Ease this burden by sharpening your ability to complete tasks in an efficient manner.  Getting things done promptly and systematically will stop everything from piling up, which causes even more stress.  My advice?  The very first thing you do at the start of your day is to get one thing done completely, and do it everyday.  This ritual alone will keep procrastination at bay, which is just another source of stress for most people.

Put an end to procrastination

Secondly, your friends and family will not want to hear about your problems all the time, so pick a time and place that is appropriate. There are times that talking about your problems is necessary. Friends will always be there to listen, so it is vital to use this option to help relieve your stress and anxiety.  Remember, you cannot say the wrong thing to the right person, but on the flip side, you cannot say the right thing to the wrong person.  It’s best to err on the side of caution, state the facts, avoid embellishing the situation, and resist ruminating (repeating yourself) to make your point, and avoid confrontation.  
 
Third, make sure you take some time for yourself every day, no matter how busy you are. You can have a quiet cup of coffee as you read something new, get up early to jump rope, or take a walk during a mid-day break.  These special, quiet times during your day can reduce your stress levels and allow you some time to relax.  If you’ve learned something during that time be sure to teach someone what it is, because it only reinforces it better for you.  That’s why the people you admire seem to have-it-together, and have a certain order to their lives and a level of control most would covet.  So teach someone something new everyday.

TIP! Avoid relying on drugs or alcohol to treat your anxiety, as this will only lead to other problems. Severe and chronic anxiety should be treated professionally, or dealt with in a manner conducive to your well being.

Stress is a major factor in loss of productivity and focus in almost all areas of your life.  Our brains are hardwired to address all human drives, and learning how to harness some of those base drives is the solution to minimize stress and anxiety.  Those base drives include:

• Discipline, 
• Proficiency, 
• Consistency, 
• Thoughtfulness and 
• Association.   

Many people who become stressed are unable to motivate themselves out of their situation.  Amplifying what is great within you will certainly accelerate your life faster than fixing what you “think” limits you.  Most authorities agree how dietary deficiencies can cause widespread health problems just as a deficiency in the base drives above can cause the first signs of stress and anxiety, which left alone or ignored only get worse.

 Amplifying what is great within you will accelerate your life faster than fixing what you “think” is limiting you.

You must become your own change agent.  Recognize the fact you are a product of what you read, what you watch on television, the music you listen to, and the people with whom you spend the most time.  In order to break the chains of stress and anxiety say yes to how you change your environment in what ever way you can.  Get out of your own way, make a connection with someone each day, teach someone something new, care about that person, and grow your list. Listen for unfulfilled needs and desires — and listen for values. After awhile, instead of finding ways to cope with daily stress and anxiety, you’ll need to only schedule time for it once and awhile.  

 

Lewis Meltz