In this video Anita talks about how focusing on what she can control has helped her wellbeing. Here is my blog below !
Recognising stress and turning it to your advantage
We have all experienced stress at some time, it is an inevitable part of life. Stress can be the cause of problems or the result of them.
In the current global pandemic we can’t avoid all the stress that is coming our way, but we can look at what it is possible to control, ways to relax and calm ourselves and how to build our positivity. In turn this can help us to develop our own strategies to increase resilience, find more effective calming techniques and to bounce back from adversity or challenge.
Stress can both cause mental health problems and make existing health problems worse. When we struggle to manage feelings of stress, they can develop into a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression. It is important to recognise that stress downregulates your immune system and your ability to execute tasks, so working on stress management and resilience is very important. It’s vital to protect your mind.
Working out what your triggers are and then minimising your exposure to those pressures is a great way of starting managing your stress and reduce the impact of stressful events.
So how can you do this?
Taking back control
The first step is to look at how you can manage the things that are worrying you right now. Identify the areas where you can take control and change things, and those where you cannot and so need to develop acceptance.
For example,
You can’t control:
- If others follow the rules
- What will happen
- How long this will last
- How others react
You can control:
- Your own social distancing
- Being kind to yourself
- Your self-care and relaxation
- The time you spend with those in your household
- Your exercise
- Your food
- Trying new things and challenging yourself
- Limit time on social media and watching the news
- Build your online community – how you communicate with family, friends and colleagues
- Your boundaries for working
- Your self discipline
Focus on the list of things you can control and look at how to implement them into your day to make the best of them. If you find your mind focusing on the things you cannot change, bring it back to areas where you are making a difference, and focus on the positives.
“Your diet is not only what you eat. It is what you watch, what you listen to, what you read, the people you hang around with… Be mindful of the things you put into your body emotionally, spiritually and physically.” The Minds Journal
Take some time to reflect on these points and come back for more on this series .
If you would like to join my free 5 day Stress to Strong reboot challenge sign up here https://www.progressive-minds.co.uk/5-day-challenge/