3 Ways to Soothe Away Stress

“I love being stressed out!” said no one, ever.

Whether you’re worried about a big meeting or being able to get prescription savings on your medications, stress is ever present in our lives; but it doesn’t have to run our lives. Here are three actionable ways to soothe away your stress so you can relax.

STOP

In a stressful moment, try using the STOP method recommended by Diana Winston, director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center and co-author of Fully Present: The Science, Art and Practice of Mindfulness. STOP stands for Slow into the moment, Take a breath, and Observe what’s happening before you proceed. Our bodies need to react to stress for survival. If a hungry tiger decides to chase you, you want your body to move quickly, not sit down and meditate. The problem arises when your body can’t tell the difference between a hungry tiger and a challenging meeting at work. The STOP method provides you with a way to slow down, mindfully identify what is happening, and then to proceed with a little more clarity and calmness.

Reframe the Situation

The experts at Psychology Today recommend using reframing as a technique to remove negativity from challenging situations. It is natural to focus on the most challenging or frustrating aspect of a situation, even though that is not the whole picture. Yes, it is a bummer that John quit and now your team will be one person short. But how else can you think about the situation? Once John leaves, maybe that gives you the opportunity to promote someone else who really deserves it. Or maybe you’ll have the opportunity to hire someone who speaks Spanish or who has some other useful skill to improve your team overall. By focusing on the positive opportunities and not just the negative challenges, you can reframe your thoughts about the situation and feel less stress.

Practice Gratitude

Like reframing, regularly practicing gratitude teaches your brain to focus on positive, calmer thoughts, rather than playing negative thoughts on repeat. In her article, “Overcome Stress by Saying Thanks,” Susanna M. Halonen recommends asking yourself a series of questions to gain perspective and cultivate gratitude in a stressful situation:

• What lessons is this experience teaching me?

• Can I find ways to be thankful for what’s happening to me now even though I was not thankful at the time it started happening?

• What ability is the experience drawing out of me that is surprising me?

View her full article here to see the rest of the list.

So the next time stress threatens your sunny day, STOP, reframe it, and be thankful.

How do you keep your stress in check? Share your tips on our Facebook page and help others soothe their stress. For more advice for living a healthier lifestyle, follow the FamilyWize blog; and visit our website to download the best discount Rx card for free.

Sources:

• Psychology Today – 10 New Strategies for Stress Management

• LA Times – 5 mental tricks to help you manage stress and be more mindful in 2017

• Psychology Today – Overcome Stress by Saying Thanks

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