Stress can be a major factor in our day-to-day lives, and while sometimes it can keep us motivated and productive, too much stress can be overwhelming and leave you with health issues. Personal growth expert Lyndelle Palmer Clarke shares her top tips for handling stress and how to overcome it to stay calm.
Scroll below for the full list of tips
Finding the source of your stress is key to eventually overcoming it
Acknowledge your triggers
First of all you need to know what triggers stress for you before you can take steps to change it. Acknowledging those triggers is how you begin to manage and overcome stress, so it doesn't end up overwhelming you. For example, cut down on caffeine or limit your time with people who make you feel stressed. If certain situations make you stressed, you have two choices. Either learn to face them, or limit your exposure to them.
Find the source
Sometimes it's not obvious where your stress is coming from. It could be an outside situation that is obvious, or a subtle recurring thought pattern that triggers you. Either way, you need to get to the source so you can proactively work to remove it and find peace.
Remember to breathe
It might seem simple but when was the last time you actually stopped and took a big deep conscious breath? Sometimes that’s all it takes to reduce stress and instantly feel better.
Writing in a journal can be a great stress reliever
Take a day off
Sometimes all we need is to relax, re-set and rejuvenate. Taking a day off to do nothing but rest can be all it takes to feel unburdened, energised and inspired again. It takes emotional intelligence to recognise when we need to rest, and it is the smartest thing you can do for yourself and those around you.
Build a foundation
Stress is usually not an overnight occurrence. It builds up over when we don't properly take care of ourselves. Stress strikes when we don’t have a good foundation in place. My simple stress relieving checklist includes daily exercise, drinking enough water, yoga or meditation, a good night sleep, a healthy diet and a positive mindset.
Keep a journal
Writing in a journal brings the unconscious into the conscious, and unconscious thinking patterns are very often the cause of stress. By putting those thoughts on paper, you can begin to reveal the source of your stress and finally empower yourself to let go of whatever is holding you in that stress pattern.
Lyndelle Palmer Clarke is the author of the Dailygreatness Journal range including the newly published Dailygreatness Business Planner.