What is stress?

When life demands more from you than you can give, you will start to feel stressed. A small amount of stress can help you focus on a task. But too much stress, or stress that lasts for days or weeks, is dangerous for your mind and body. You may find that you’re ordering out too frequently, having a drink or two to relax every night, or bailing out on exercising because you just don’t have the time. All of these together can have serious long-term health consequences!

8 Steps to Manage Stress:

1. Focus on urgent tasks that only you can do. Fixing a broken pipe that is leaking water? Urgent, but can your super handle the repair? Sorting out a closet? Not urgent today.
2. Learn to estimate the amount of time it takes you to do common chores. Can you drop off that Amazon return on the way to work? How long will it take? If you have an accurate time estimate you will know if you really have time to do that chore right now, or if you need to schedule it for later.
3. Avoid avoiding! Avoiding a task doesn’t make it go away, but it can add to your stress if you avoid it for too long. Instead, plan a time to do that dreaded thing. Let go of judgments like, “I should have done it weeks ago” and reframe that to “I wish I didn’t have to do this, and I’m going to feel so much better when it’s completed.”
4. Set realistic goals. If an item on your list is “Move out of where I’m living” that may be too overwhelming. Instead, think of all the smaller steps you need to take to achieve that goal and act on one or two of those steps. Be sure those steps are concrete and achievable. “Find the perfect apartment” isn’t a task item, but “Find four apartments with open houses this weekend” is something you can accomplish.
5. Choose 3-5 realistic items each day to accomplish. If there are more urgent things than that delegate things to co-workers, family members, or even friends who may be able to pitch in and help you when you’re overwhelmed. Take time to notice what you have completed and give yourself a mental high five for what you’ve accomplished!
6. Let go of judgments.Beating yourself up for “not doing enough” will only add to your stress. Punishing yourself with harsh self-judgments won’t decrease your stress, but it will make you miserable.
7. Make your well-being a priority. Be sure that at least one thing you do for yourself is high on your task list. Take 20 minutes for a walk in your neighborhood, treat yourself to that caramel latte from the corner shop, or go for a 30-minute run. Call a friend and make plans to meet for a walk.
8. Know when to get help. Stress can be a factor in anxiety and depression, or it can be a sign that you may have a problem like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If you are struggling to control your stress consider speaking to a therapist