Tips on How to Handle Stressful Situations
According to Jonathan Osler, stress is a state of mental, emotional, physical, and psychological strains when one is under demanding or adverse circumstances. Osler says that it is important to manage stress because a high level of stress can put one’s well-being at risk. Below are some tips on how to handle stressful situations in life.
1. Identify the Source of Stress in Your Life
To handle stressful situations in life, people should start by identifying the source of stress first. It is easy to identify the source of major stress like divorce, changing jobs, but it is not easy to pinpoint the source of chronic stress. Identifying the source of stress starts with looking closely at one’s habits, attitude, and excuses. Until someone accepts responsibility, he or she pays in creating stress, or the level of stress will remain out of control.
2. Take a Deep Breath and Take a Break
Jonathan Osler believes that relaxing and taking a few deep breaths can help to reduce pressure right away. The procedure for taking deep breaths is as follows:
- Sit down in a comfortable position with the hand in your lap while your feet are on the floor.
- Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a relaxing place like a beach, a beautiful field, or anywhere peaceful.
- Slowly take a deep breath in and out for 5 to 10 minutes.
When it comes to taking a break, people need to plan realistic things to give their minds time off from stress. Respectful things they can consider are; meditation, yoga, Tai chi, prayer, and listening to favorite music.
3. Slow Down
In our day-to-day activities, people are too busy with jobs. Sometimes we just need to slow down and chill out.
Look at your life and find small ways you can do things. Break down big jobs into small ones and avoid those that are unnecessary as they make us tired.
4. Talk About Your Problems with Others
Talking about the things that are bothering someone’s life can help them to lower stress levels. Many people surround us with whom we can share our problems, for example, friends, family members, your doctor, a therapist, or a trusted clergyman.
5. Self-Talk and Go Easy On Yourself
Self-talk is also advisable when it’s positive. Self-talk is when someone talks to him or herself about problems he or she is facing in life. Self-talk is one way of handling stressful situations in life.
Accept you are not perfect. No matter how hard you try, you can’t do things perfectly. Stop overthinking, and don’t forget to keep a sense of humor.
6. Accept Things You Can’t Change
Some stress or some source of stress is unavoidable. For instance, you can’t avoid stress caused by the death of a loved one, a national recession, or a serious illness. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things the way they are. This is best to avoid controlling the uncontrollable situation in life. Many situations in life, for example, people’s behavior, are beyond our control.
