Stress Management: Identify, Plan & Attack!
Written by Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD // May 14, 2010 // Health // 14 Comments
On June 5th, I’ll be busing my way on over to New York City to provide media blog coverage for the 2010 Food for your Whole Life Health Symposium. And on June 6th, I’ll be listening to some of the best of the best in the fitness, health, and nutrition world (including Dr. Oz!). Check out the speakers here. Uh … can I say FABULOUS!?! I absolutely can’t wait! But, in the meantime, I’ve been blogging away and this week’s post for the Symposium (as seen below) was written by yours truly. You can read up more of the Symposium’s blog posts here.
Stress. Somehow the word alone creates tension. Yet not all stress is bad. Keep in mind that stress is a normal physiological reaction that allows us to meet the demands of our daily grind—pushing us to accomplish tasks and increase productivity. Think about all those deadlines, meetings, and presentations that you have going on. Would you be able to get them done just as fast without that extra added push of stress? For most of us, the answer is no.
However, when stress no longer motivates, but begins to “weigh you down”—the fine line between healthy and unhealthy stress has been crossed. If not properly managed, stress will begin to take a toll on your health. You may exhibit physical symptoms (i.e., fatigue, nausea, and insomnia); mental symptoms (i.e., poor concentration, burnout, and restlessness); social and emotional symptoms (i.e., isolation, anxiety, and feeling insecure), and/or behavioral symptoms (i.e., overeating, undereating, and relationship conflicts).
Know that stress is subjective. Everyone reacts to stress differently and has their own sources of stress called stressors. Your stressors may actually lessen the impact of another person’s stressors. Despite there being different symptoms and sources of stress for each of us, we all have one thing in common—the need to learn how to manage stress.
In order to decrease the negative effects of stress on our bodies and minds, we need to first pinpoint what exactly is stressing us out. Maybe it’s a fear of public speaking, deadlines, or problematic relationships. Or perhaps it’s heights, exams, or a big life change. Take time to identify your stressor. Next, determine what you can do to make whatever your stressor is stress you out less. For example, if you find making your lunch in the hectic AM is tacking on unneeded stress, make your lunch the night before. If a presentation is stressing you out because you have yet to start it, map out your plan of attack and get the ball rolling. Simply identify, plan, and attack.
Until you uncover your stressors and create a plan of attack, below are some practical tips to help you destress your day-to-day.
- Sweat it out. The endorphins from your feel-good workout will boost your mood and so will the feeling of accomplishment from a tough sweat session.
- Eat healthfully. Amp up your fruit, veggie, and whole grain intake. You’ll find that when you’re eating well, you’ll feel better, be more energized, and have an improved sense of well-being.
- Learn to say “no.” Sometimes the focus needs to be on you and not on what you “have to do.” Don’t forget that you need personal time too.
- Keep a journal. Simply writing down how you feel can be a fantastic release, and you may come to find that through journaling lies your answer of exactly what it is that you need to do to live more “stress-free.”
- Take a deep breath. In times of immediate stress, instantly calm yourself by taking a deep breath in while counting to 10, hold that same breath for 10 seconds, and exhale for 10 seconds. This tool serves as an instant destressor.
- Communicate. Talk out your feelings with your friends and family, or a counselor. Sometimes we just need someone to listen.
How do you destress?
P.S. I’ve updated my blog! Hope you like the new do 
!!! I have much more work to do though…I switched from WordPress.com to WordPress.org, and I’m super happy I did with all the new options I have. However, let’s just say that writing this post came in handy. In between GoDaddy support calls (they’re now my new best friends … j/k) and momentary pauses where I thought I deleted my entire blog (this happened multiple times…), point number 5—the “deep breath” tool—came in handy…
I say goodbye to fad diets, bogus "fat-burning" pills, and processed, non-food food. And, I smile hello to a healthifying lifestyle full of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, sweaty workouts, the occasional "chocolate fix," sleep, family and friend time, and quality "me time" with a focus on health. I look forward to your comments and thoughts as the posts healthify on by!
14 Comments on " Stress Management: Identify, Plan & Attack! "
I appreciate your commitment to healthy living! This is an excellent post that I agree with wholeheartedly. I’ve found that eating a healthy diet and exercise do wonders for stress. Thank you for the reminders!
Loving the new look Corinne!!
Thanks so much!
Deep breathing and yoga are definitely my stress relievers. I like the new look! I’ve never heard of wordpress.org actually.
Aw! Thanks so much!
hola
i’m so pleased that i found this site. that topic was so nice. thanks again i added the rss on this site.
are you going to post similar posts?
Glad to hear! And yes!
I love the new look! It’s great! What does wordpress.org get you that wordpress.com doesn’t? I guess I don’t know the difference. I’m so dumb at this stuff!!
I destress with plenty of sleep! I get most stressed when I’m tired, and that leads to crankiness and being short-tempered…not good!
Thanks Nicole! WordPress.org is a little more technical than wordpress.com, but with it you have more options to choose from through plugins. Plugins are somewhat like different applications to put in your blog. For example, the LinkWithin at the end of my posts is a plugin as well as the retweet button at the top of each post–they’re simply tools that I couldn’t have with wordpress.com.Wordpress.com is still pretty awesome! I just like the ability to add in more stuff to GGB
The switch has taken awhile and is still in the works, but I’m working out all the kinks! Thanks so much for your encouragement!
And agreed! Sleep is key to destress! Otherwise, I’m cranky too
What a neat opportunity! I envy you for taking blogging to the next level. I can’t wait to hear more.
I love your tips for helping with stress. More than any workout, yoga always seems to cure my stress. Don’t get me wrong, sweating it out in spin or body pump is great. I just love the relaxation you feel from yoga..you just leave your cares out the door.
Love the new look!
Thanks for the note Kristen! Agreed! I just have a sick affinity for sweating it up lol
Great tips for beating stress. All so true, and they work! I also like to remind people to “stay in the moment”.
The June symposium will be SO FUN. Can’t wait to read you media coverage!
Corinne, the new design is so spiffy! Awesome!
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