What pushes your buttons and makes you want to scream at the top of your lungs?
Close your eyes and bring to memory all the things that piss you off. Go on..take your time. I will wait…Okay, you are back. The list you just identified are your life stressors. The most important part in dealing with stress is identifying the cause. Now all you need is to come-up with ways to deal with them that don’t involve smoking. Here is a partial list to get you started:
- A problem shared is a problem halved.
- Adopt a positive outlook.
- Always have a plan “B”
- Always make copies of important papers
- Anticipate your needs
- Ask for help
- Avoid the situation(s) that make your problem(s) worse
- Be in control of what you CAN control
- Be positive
- Be proactive
- Be responsible for your feelings
- Become a better listener
- Believe in yourself
- Break large tasks into bite size portions
- Concentrating on the tasks that will make a real difference to your work.
- Connect with people
- Constantly challenge yourself
- Develop your sense of humor
- Do it today
- Do not do something unhealthy to help you cope
- Do volunteer work
- Don’t rely on your memory – write it down
- Exercise every day
- Find support from others
- Focus on quality work rather than quantity.
- Freely praise other people
- Get enough sleep
- Get to work early
- Go to a ball game and scream
- Have a support network of people, places and things
- Have goals for yourself
- Have some “me time”
- Hum
- If you’re stressed identify the cause.
- Ignore the things you cannot control
- Keep a journal
- Know and believe there’s always a solution
- Know your limitations and let others know them, too
- Learn and apply the 80/20 rule
- Learn the words to a new song
- Learn to meet your own needs
- Learn to whistle a tune
- Look at challenges differently
- Look for a silver lining
- Maintain your weight
- Pay attention
- Physical activity can get you in the right state of mind to be able to find a solution.
- Play with a toddler
- Practice breathing slowly
- Practice grace under pressure
- Put air freshener in your car
- Quit trying to fix other people
- Recognize the importance of unconditional love
- Remember that stress is an attitude
- Remember you always have options
- Remove clutter from your life
- Repeat 20 times a day “It can be done.”
- Repeat this 10 times everyday “No matter how difficult a problem may appear to be, there’s always a solution.”
- Schedule play time into every day
- Smile
- Stand up and stretch
- Stay active.
- Stop saying negative things to yourself
- Stretch your limits a little each day
- Strive for Excellence NOT perfection
- Take a bubble bath
- Take charge of your life
- Take control be a part of the solution that satisfies you and not someone else.
- Take time to smell the flowers
- Talk less and listen more
- Talk things through with a friend
- The more you give the happier you feel.
- Visualize yourself winning
- Watch less TV
- Work smarter, not harder
- Write a note to a far away friend
- Write down three things at the end of every day which went well or for which you’re grateful.
The key is to find a way to deal with stress that does NOT involve either a)hurting yourself or b)smoking again. The solution to your problem involves the application of one or more of the above suggestions. It is up to you to tailor the solution to fit your particular situation. Now get to work. 🙂
photo credit: Wiertz Sébastien