10 ways to learn to live with fear, anxiety, worry and uncertainty, yet still be productive, happy, healthy & thriving:
- Give yourself permission to schedule regular, adult time-outs. During your time-outs, do whatever you like, enjoy, prefer or makes you happy.
- Either as part of the
above or otherwise, schedule regular, 10-30 minute mental breaks. During
that time do not watch the news or look at your mobile. Instead practice
deep breathing and focus only on your thoughts and what’s running
through your mind. Become aware of any scary, fear-filled thoughts. Try to
mentally replace them by thinking only of your very favorite memory, in
detail. Regularly re-live your favorite memory(ies) in your mind.
- Call a trusted and supportive friend, verbalize your feelings & ask for reassurance.
- Start a journal to
download all your feelings/emotions in writing. Several studies show
that regularly “dumping” your thoughts & feelings into written form
reduces stress.
- Remember that what may
feel scary, does not mean it is an actual threat or danger to you. Repeat
this known maxim to yourself, “80-90% of the things I worry about will
never happen.”
- Remember that
feelings/emotions are very different from facts/logic. We all have both in
our minds at all times, to varying degrees at different times. During
highly stressful times, emotion tends to dominate our minds/thinking. Try
to avoid making decisions based on emotions/feelings alone, especially
when highly stressed.
- Get buried in your work
or on a project. Being “in the zone” makes time pass with less mental
stress.
- Embrace stress and worry as a natural part of being human, they never fully disappear. Expect
some level of stress/worry at all times, but work to minimize the negative
impacts on your mental health, family, work and life, especially during
tough times.
- Remember: what does not
kill you may make you stronger.
- Exercise daily or
regularly. Strive to work up a sweat daily or at least three times a week.
What other things work for you to reduce & mange your
level of mental stress?
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