What Is Stress Management Exactly?

As things in the workplace (and at home) are speeding up beyond our natural ability to handle them, what used to be a small headache 30 years ago can now explode into a full scale crisis, in a nanosecond.  Phoong!  The storm is here.  That’s why stress management is now essential for anyone who wants to avoid unpleasant surprises.

What is commonly known under the general rubric of “stress management” includes a series of life skills that can be used to prevent, handle and recuperate from stressful situations.

Stress management is taking proactive measures

Stress is an epidemic these days.  It is safe to assume the germ is in the air, and that you have a chance to catch it.

So, prevention, prevention, prevention.  That means learning stress management techniques before you feel stressed.

Stress management is noticing danger signs early

Stress is a disease (which leads to many other diseases): if you notice it early, you’ll have the time and resources to deal with it effectively.  When it’s full blown, it’s harder to manage.

So what are the early signs of stress?  The earliest signs show up in your breathing pattern.  Breath is inextricably connected with your mental-emotional states.  When your breath is shallow, thin, fast-paced, irregular, etc.,  you will feel out of sorts to say the least.  Or you may be experiencing anxious thoughts and feelings, mild depression, irritability, frustration, etc.

When you notice these stress symptoms any time during the day, pause, breathe deeply and refresh yourself (for regulating breath, see Stress Relief at Your Fingertips)

Stress management is knowing what to do under pressure

If you’ve taken proactive measures, you’ll find it easier here.

Always start with the easiest and most effective way: breathing.  At Sunlight we recommend different stress management techniques accompanied by time-proven mantra music.  The music can cut off the excessive activity of the negative thinking mind and create space for a positive change to happen.  It can also regulate your breathing “automatically,” because our body-mind-heart naturally responds to rhythm.

Once breathing is regulated, you can refocus, take a good look at the stressor, and uproot it.  There, simple as that.

Stress management is knowing how to relax and get a good night sleep

Stress is accumulative.  If you keep feeling stressed out for 7 consecutive days and nights, you are on the road to a burnout.  But if you work hard during the day, relax and recuperate during the night, (or preferably during your lunch break as well), you can create space for yourself to refocus and better handle the situation.

There are many powerful stress management techniques to create desired relaxation and deep restorative sleep.  The one in Stress Relief at Your Fingertips is very powerful.   Certain mantra music is also good for slowing down the body-mind at the end of the day.  Here is one if you want to try it: http://j.mp/tG0tW9

No matter what stress storm hits, always remember that you have the power to manage it.  First of all: breathe!  Life is breath.  Living is breathing.  Let it go; let it flow, and let yourself thrive.

Peace be with you wherever you go!

Liping.