Stress Management for Beginners

When you're stressed out, the last thing you want is a long list of complicated techniques to help you manage the stress. Below are a few brief and very simple ways to help you effectively deal with stress in your life.

Time Management means Stress Management

Lack of time and stress go hand in hand. Since we can't add hours to the day, let's focus on managing the time we do have. Organizing and scheduling our time can be very difficult, especially if there isn't an outside driving force. For those who have a particularly hard time with this an online resource called "Simpleology" can be incredibly helpful. "Simpleology" is a very simple instructional program intended to help you be more efficient, organized, and productive with your time. It provides a space to list all of the things to be done each day, categorize them, schedule them, and prioritize. The program includes very brief videos that explain how we create unnecessary work for ourselves and how to avoid this trap. It's almost like having your own personal time management trainer right there with you. Visit Simpleology.com to set up your free account.

Quiet the Mind

It doesn't matter how organized you are, if you're constantly consumed by your thoughts, stress management is quite impossible. How can we release ourselves from the grip of our thoughts and quiet our minds? Start by taking just a few seconds throughout the day to stop whatever you are doing and focus on your breathing. Focus on the sound of your breathing and the feeling in your chest and abdomen. In time you can increase the amount of time you spend with this exercise but for now a few seconds is all that's needed. This is a great way to harness our thoughts, quiet the mind, and manage our stress.

Be In the Present Moment

Stress is usually caused by focusing on the future with negative expectations. We are trapped in an endless cycle of worry usually based on a deadline. The story often goes, "We must have this done by that time and we can't see how we're going to do it." If we can bring our focus into the present moment, the only moment we have any control over, then we can manage and reduce our stress. Our physical senses are a wonderful tool to help us with this. Try this little trick: Take your index finger and gently run it up and down the inside of your fore arm. Why does this work? This part of the arm is very sensitive. When a sensitive part of the body is touched we immediately take notice. Our awareness is brought into this moment. This action also creates a calming effect, which helps to reduce stress.

Fresh Air

Simply getting outside and breathing fresh air does wonders for stress. When we are inside surrounded by stacks of bills, staring at the computer, piles of laundry, or whatever it may be, it's hard not to feel stressed. Instead of remaining there immobilized by the amount of work to be done, step outside. Stretch, take a few deep breaths, or go for a brief walk if possible. Use the previously mentioned breathing exercise while you're doing this and you'll receive double the benefit. Try it. You'll be amazed at the difference this makes.

Finding a Stress Management Course

What if you feel the stress is too great to manage on your own. Perhaps stress management training might help. Consider the following before enrolling in a course. What area of your life is the most stressful for you? Is it your job, family life, education, or finances? It is important to ask yourself this question. Most stress management courses cater to specific areas such as these. Know what you need help with ahead of time. This way you will receive the most benefit from the course. If you experience a more generalized form of stress, stress management training can still be effective. Sometimes the stress we experience can come from a deeply rooted personal issue. If this is the case you might consider the "Sedona Method." This program offers guidance on how to let go of and release the things that cause so much pain, unhappiness, and stress in our lives.

It is important to accept responsibility for our lives if we truly want to manage the stress we feel. The circumstances we each face rarely change on their own. It is up to us to make the changes. The above tips are easy ways to begin taking control of stress. It is vital to your success that you start out simple. You will be much more likely to stick with the changes and succeed in managing the stress. The old Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu, once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Take the first step today.