Everyone deals with stress, there’s no getting around that. How we react to it makes all the difference in the world!
Do we have a choice in how we react to stress?
Yes, we most certainly do have a choice in how we react…and it is a game changer!
I used to think that I had no choice as to how I reacted to anything in life. It was a real mind shift for me when I discovered that I could control not only how I think but also how I react.
A couple of weeks ago, I posted about why it’s important to not to react with stress. For instance, if you allow stress to take over, you’ll probably end up getting sick because it can wreck havoc on your immune system.
How can change our reaction?
Before we can change our actions – and reactions – we need to change the way that we think.
If we have the same thoughts & beliefs as always, we’ll keep acting in the same ways we always have. bit.ly/VH5LOC via @growwithstacy
— Stacy Claflin (@growwithstacy) February 7, 2013
Once we have trained our minds to think about stress differently, we’ll be well on our way to reacting differently.
Imagine someone walking around with the belief that everything in their life will fall apart if everything doesn’t go exactly the way that they want it to. That person will stress out a lot, because as we all know, not a lot in life goes exactly as we want it to.
Now imagine someone walking around with the belief that things will work out no matter how dire the circumstances look.
They could both go through the same trying circumstances, but the second person will fare better because they won’t be full of anxiety every time that something goes wrong. That person will be able to think of creative solutions and enjoy life despite what’s going on.
Need some tips on staying positive? Discover 5 ways to stay positive.
Practical Tips to Beat Stress
Once you’ve changed your mindset, or are in the process of changing it, you’ll be ready for the practical how-to tips! Give these a try the next time you’re faced with stress!
Meditate - This time last year, I shared how Meditation changed my life in 30 days and one of the benefits was a reduced feeling of stress!
Rely on Others – Adrienne Smith shared in a comment recently how relying on others helped her through a trying time she went through.
Use Pinterest – Pinterest has many uses and last week I shared how you can use it to reduce stress!
Figure out the Cause – Darnell Jackson shared with us in a comment about how stress can be like a screensaver that comes into our minds when we’re idle. We’re either idle because we don’t know what to do or we don’t want to do what we need to. We need to figure out which is the cause and go from there. Pauline also suggests looking at the situation to plan the solution.
Exercise – Donna Merrill suggests exercise. I agree, it’s great for the body as well as the mind!
Stay organized – Paul Lee suggests staying organized as a way to avoid stress. It’s very true that the environment we’re in makes a huge impact on how we feel.
Attitude is Everything – Theodore Nwangene shared the powerful quote, “Attitude is more important than facts.”
Get Your Mind off of It – Jorge Blanco likes to do things that calm him when he’s feeling stressed, like taking walks and doing visualizations.
Focus on Your Dreams – Thinking about ways to make your dreams come true can bring hope and excitement into your life!
Image by chantrybee
Thank you for reading! I'm Stacy, the owner of this blog. You can learn more about me here.
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Hi Stacy! Thank you for including my suggestion in your article.
The best advice I like here is definitely the one on using Pinterest. It is the most practical because you can just click away your stress and not have to go out and find a nice view to look at, although I would still prefer that over anything, but Pinterest really works if you only have so little time to deal with stress.
Jorge Blanco invites you to read… What I Got Out of Writing a Journal
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Stacy Reply:
February 7th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Hi Jorge,
You had a great suggestion! Both going for a walk and visualization are powerful stress relievers. I like using Pinterest for the same reasons. You can so easily imagine yourself somewhere peaceful and relaxing by looking at the images.
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… Betrayal Blog Tour Sign Ups
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My favorite stress reliever is a hot bath with some vanilla scented bubble bath. It feels so good and really helps me unwind after a stressful day.
Eric West | Friendship Society invites you to read… The Vision of an Un-Church by Eric West
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Stacy Reply:
February 7th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
That’s a great way to relax, and the scent of vanilla is used holistically for treating mood and well being.
Stacy invites you to read… Cover Reveal: Betrayal
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Thanks for the mention Stacy just sharing my experience I figured other people might be feeling the same way.
Darnell Jackson invites you to read… How to find leads on the internet for free. part2
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Stacy Reply:
February 7th, 2013 at 7:19 pm
Thanks for sharing your insight! It was really unique and thought provoking!
Stacy invites you to read… Preview of Betrayal – An Excerpt
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Creating a life of gusto, of putting passion into action, offers rewards with the greatest return of happiness.
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Stacy Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 6:48 am
Focusing on our passion is definitely a way to combat stress! It keeps us focused on a bigger picture and helps us not to get dragged down by the smaller things.
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These are great tips. I would recommend to take a big step back to gain the overview of his situation. I think the attitude and the point of view are very important. With the right attitude you won`t be stressed by anything because then you are able to balance your priorities.
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Stacy Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 6:48 am
So true! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
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I’m always stressed out, I think it’s mainly down to the fact that I just don’t stop working. But when I do get those rare moments to slow down, I do relax with a little bit of meditation, always works wonders, until I overwork myself again;)
Karen Woodham invites you to read… Upcoming Movie The Lost Tree Starring Thomas Nicholas
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Stacy Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Hi Karen,
I hope you take time to relax every day. Stress has a nasty habit of taking its toll on our bodies. Try working in some of that meditation into your regular schedule. I found that listening to meditation soundtracks while I’m falling asleep works – and that doesn’t take any extra time out of the day!
Thanks for stopping by!
Stacy
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Karen Woodham Reply:
February 9th, 2013 at 8:47 am
Thanks for the tips Stacy, I’ll get some good ones on my iPod for the evenings when I can just chill
Karen Woodham invites you to read… Wreck It Ralph The 52nd Animated Movie From Disney Blazing Minds Film Review
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Stacy Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 11:04 am
One that I really like is http://www.joy-meditation.com/ and it’s free!
Stacy invites you to read… The Next Big Thing: Deception
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Great tips Stacy. I go the workout root and shortly after the workout I try to analyze the reason for stress, how changing the perspective could help, and is the issue is actually THAT important o be stressed. If its about time management I get it covered
Jane invites you to read… I Am What I Am: Use This Phrase To Power Up Yourself
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Stacy Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 11:05 am
Hi Jane,
Working is out a great stress reliever! I like taking walks around my neighborhood, it’s relaxing and gives me a good workout at the same time!
Stacy
Stacy invites you to read… Writer’s Resources
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Right before this post, I was cleaning my desk…
I found that cleaning things up (my desk, my room, a closet, a drawer, etc) helps me clear my mind and destress.
It’s a simple solution and yet very effective.
“Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be all right.”
Bob Marley
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Stacy Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 11:07 am
That’s an excellent tip! Looking at a newly organized or cleaned area does wonders for one’s mood!
Stacy invites you to read… Betrayal
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I agree with all of those tips except for the ‘rely on others’ one. While I agree it can help I believe in building the ability to deal with stress yourself because others won’t always be there.
Of course it’s great to talk to a friend and I do so and it helps, but when that isn’t available I have to find it within myself.
But that is where the meditation and other methods come in I guess
-Ben
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I should really be getting back to my meditation and physical exercises again. Our group master once said that tai-chi is the best exercise as it combines meditation and physical movement at the same time.
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I like your mention about using pinterest… haha.. thats the best thing we all can do during stress…
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I agree with all of them, but I find that getting your mind off it is my ‘go to’ strategy. However, I don’t take a walk or visualize (although I do that sometimes); instead, I normally change up my routine. I find that I stress out about something repeatedly if I’m in the same place…does that make sense?
For example, if I’m in my office at home, then my mind tends to wander to the same concerns and worries that are either created by my office or just something I tend to focus on in my office. If I pack up my computer and head to a coffee shop, I’m able to leave those concerns behind and focus on other things.
I find that going to a new place or a place that I don’t go often really helps me to live in the moment and let go of my stress.
Kari invites you to read… Be Compassionate Towards Others In Order To Be Happy
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I agree that meditation is one of the best technique to beat the stress. According to my experience meditation is foundation of success.
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Some good tips Stacy,
Meditation has been a big one for me, I usually do it around a similar time of day. But if i’m feeling more stressed, or down or just ‘feeling off’ I will do it then and it always helps me relax and focus again.
-Ben
Ben invites you to read… The best music to relax and get in ‘The Zone’
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I think the best way to beat stress is identify the things that put you under stress. Make sure you understand why you become stressed so that you can try to avoid these circumstances. Knowledge is powerful, and self-knowledge is especially powerful. Thank you so much for these useful tipse .
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Hi Stacy,
I agree with you – “Once we have trained our minds to think about stress differently, we’ll be well on our way to reacting differently.”
Another good way to beat stress is to simply get out of our normal groove and do something different. To release our creativity and boost our enthusiasm, we can think about some of the things we loved to do as a child. The more fun and wacky, the better… let’s beat stress by laughing out loud!
Patricia Anderson invites you to read… No Laughing Matter
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hi Stacy,
This is an excellent article given by you….if whenever I feel stress then I close my eye and remember my God….really I feel beter….Stacy, your post is cool…..thanx for this post….best of luck
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Exercise if my number one stress buster! Thanks for a helpful list Stacy!
Alex Blackwell | The BridgeMaker invites you to read… 21 Things to Always Remember
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Hi there.
Stress is just a consequence that our focus has made. We change our focus, we create or avoid stress. Everytime sounds so easy
For me the importance is what stress reminds me on. I somekind welcome it and ask my self ”What is good in this” or ”What should I change to avoid bad feelings in the future”.
Why I welcome it? Because it represents a life intersection. It’s part of personal growth and that’s what I want—to develop my self.
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Heard a great quote – Exercise doesn’t take time, it creates time. It’s good to release all of that nervous tension to clear your head!
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awesome tips this is really a great way to beat the stress in you thanks for this awesome share
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Great post i enjoy to read and fell very calm and relax my mind such a wonderful tips Thank you to sharing me this i need this.
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Stress can’t be avoided but it’s how we react to it that matters. Meditation and exercise do well for me in keeping stressful thoughts at bay. Love each of your post Stacy.
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