Managing Stress: Week 1
Defining Stress, recognizing patterns and behaviors
Welcome to Week One!
To get the best out of this series, I encourage you to grab a notebook and jot down the action item for each week. Write your answers in your notebook, as well as any other thoughts that may come to mind.
Defining Stress
Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed their resources. In short, it’s what we feel when we think we’ve lost control of events. Stress has been shown to lead to or exacerbate certain diseases, including:
- Heart disease
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Headaches
- Depression
- Skin rashes
- Insomnia
- Panic Attacks
Stress is partially instinctual (i.e. running from a tiger), and partially the way we think. In other words, perceived stressful situations cause extreme worry about what may or may not even occur. If we believe that the demands have exceeded our resources, we need to change our beliefs about our resourcefulness. While not everything is within our control, we do have control over our reactions to situations. This is important to remember. Because if we can control our minds and our perceptions of a situation, we can control our actions or reactions.
This Week’s Stress Management Technique: Recognizing Patterns and Behaviors
We can’t fix something we cannot (or will not) recognize. Noticing our stress triggers can help us develop effective ways to manage or eliminate those patterns or behaviors altogether.
Action Item: Reflect on any patterns, behaviors, or situations that are stressful. Find at least one realistic way to counter that behavior. Be patient with yourself though! Not everything can be fixed overnight. That being said, I encourage you to think outside the box!
Here are Some Examples:
| Stressful Behavior | Stress-Less Behavior |
| Taking on too much responsibility | Delegate tasks to spouse, children, coworkers, etc. |
| Unrealistic amount of time to complete tasks | Commit to using a planner, iCal, Asana, or other time management resource. |
| Long commute | Find an alternate route. Take turns carpooling. Find a podcast or internet radio station to make the commute more enjoyable! |
Next Week, We’ll Discuss Improving Your Mood with Nutrition…
See you then!
About Rochelle
Rochelle Redding, M.S. is a wife, mother of four, and the owner and operator of Rochelle Redding Coaching and Consulting Services (RRCCS). RRCCS is a spiritually-based coaching service dedicated to helping women be their best selves and achieve wellness in all aspects of their life. Learn about life coaching services with Rochelle by clicking here.
Read My Book
Finding Power and Purpose takes the reader on a dynamic journey from darkness, depression, and life-threatening health, to one of healing, self-love and alignment with God’s will.
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