Find Time to Deal with Stress

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

The way you use your time is the way you live your life.

Find Time to Deal with Stress

Posted on January 28, 2009, under Time and Energy.

Finding time to deal with the stress in your life greatly enhances your productivity, as well as your enjoyment of each moment. What kinds of stressors do you experience in your life?

We’re slated to get a significant snowstorm here in New Hampshire today, and if you’ve been following The Time Finder, you may recall that we had an ice storm back in December. (That’s putting it mildly!)

As soon as I heard the weather prediction, I could feel my stress level rising.

Stress takes a toll on us, both mentally and physically. It can leave us exhausted, paralyzed, and susceptible to all manner of illnesses. The good news is that there is a lot that we can do to cope with stress.

The first step is to recognize when we are feeling stressed. An impending snowstorm is a stress-trigger that I recognized quite easily this winter!

The second step is to set aside time to deal with it!

It does take time to mitigate stress. However, the positive effect that your time investment produces is well worth the time it takes!

In their article titled Methods of Stress Reduction, Harry Mills, Ph.D., Natalie Reiss, Ph.D. and Mark Dombeck, Ph.D. outline some very easy, and accessible stress reduction techniques. They start with breathing-based techniques in this article, and then move on, and subsequent articles that you can access from their site.

I suggest that you try some of their simple suggestions the next time you feel stressed. Focus on your breathing, not on whether you’re doing it right – that will just add to your stress!

Do not worry about how well you are doing. Try to concentrate on your breathing and your focus word. If other thoughts come to mind, gently direct your mind back towards your breathing.

What are some typical stressors for you? How do you cope with them? Is it time well-spent? I’d love to hear!

What if you could find another hour every day? You can! For more Time Finding resources, you are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!

Let’s explore time together …

Paula's Signature

There are 3 Responses to “Find Time to Deal with Stress”

#1 Find Strong Time and Stop Snowballing Stress! | The Time Finder with Paula Eder - 29 January, 5:41 AM

[...] yesterday’s Time Finder post I wrote a little about our latest snowstorm and dealing with the stress it [...]

#2 Wendy - 29 January, 5:54 AM

Hi Paula,

I’m a big fan of deep breathing and find it’s one of my most powerful tools when I’m feeling stressed. One of my favorite books that I integrate into my stress reduction routine is called Oasis in the Overwhelm: 60 Second Strategies for Balance in a Busy World by my friend Millie Grenough. Check out her website: http://www.OasisintheOverwhelm.com.

Thanks for the great post and helpful reminder.
Wendy

#3 Paula - 29 January, 6:57 AM

Wow, Wendy – Good morning and thanks for the comment – and the link to Millie Grenough’s book!

Isn’t it amazing, how powerful some of these simple tools are? I feel the same way about the power and impact of good quality (as you noted in your post yesterday – http://www.healthy-endeavors.com/2009/01/27/quality-food-leads-to-better-health/)

I love it!

Paula

If this is your first comment it may be held for moderation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed, or Trackback from your own site.