Stress is abundant everywhere nowadays, it seems,
and it really plays a toll on our health. It lowers
our immune system so we get sick more, it gets our
cortisol levels high so we gain weight easier, it
causes lots of sleepless nights... and the list goes
on. How can we cope with stress in a healthy way?
Everyone deals with stress in a different way. Some
yell at their kids, spouse, best friends, or anyone
around them at the time. Some reach for a carton of
their favorite ice cream or bag of chocolate chip
cookies. Some go to a fast food restaurant and
purchase a bunch of fatty fast food late at night.
Some go to the vending machine and others skip meals
slowing their metabolism way down making it
difficult to burn off fat. What is your way of
dealing with stress?
There are healthy ways of dealing with the stress we
face every day at home and at work. First of all, we
need to remember we are not in control of the
situation; we are not in charge. If our kids
are behaving badly, it does not mean we are bad
parents, they simply are behaving badly and we need
to punish them accordingly. What use is there to
yell and scream at them? It just makes them upset
and it gets our heart rate up and then we all have a
bad day. Simply give them the consequence of their
behavior and move on to the next thing you need to
deal with. If the computer doesn't
work or if we do not have an internet connection, it
does not help to get upset and frustrated. Again, we
need to remember that we are not in charge. We need
to try to fix the problem, but it can't be fixed
right away, we can talk to someone who can fix it
and let them fix it later in the day; we just figure
out what we can do without the use of the computer
or internet. If we have a lot to do in a day, the
thing to do is to write everything down in a list
and decide which of those items needs to get done
first; in other words, we need to prioritize.
As we get the things done, we need to check
them off. The cool thing about a list is that the
results are measurable so we can see all the things
we have accomplished and we can be proud of
ourselves. We all have the same amount of hours in
the day, so if something does not get done, simply
list it in the things to do for the next day; it's
really no big deal.
Next time you feel the urge to yell at your kids,
remember, you are not in charge of their behavior.
Take a deep breath, talk to them calmly about their
behavior and what the consequences are for their
behavior and move on to the other things you need to
get done at work or at home. If the computer or
internet doesn't work properly, it's ok; it can be
fixed later. If you have a lot to do,
simply prioritize, make a list and check off the
things that you get done; if it doesn't get done,
leave it for the next day.
Take a deep breath, relax and realize you are not in
charge. Stress less and you will be a lot healthier
and happier.
