7 Shortcuts: How to Control Negative Stress and Live the Good Life

 

 

Do you know All 7 Shortcuts on How to Control Negative Stress?

Learn to Live the Good Life Without Stress!

 

Have you ever experienced positive stress or eustress, the direct opposite of distress? Like the anticipation most of us feel before a vacation, or the drive to do more after a big accomplishment. Positive stress pushes us to do better, it enables us to feel the surge of hormones which work to motivate and help us feel more alive.

Stress gets a bad rep these days, but not all stress is bad! As entrepreneurs, we have deadlines, meetings, requirements we need to fulfill and most of the time this works to promote eustress. It’s nice to feel needed, this is what keeps us excited about life!

The downside to good stress is of course, when it gets out of control and we become overwhelmed. This is when the bad stress comes in, the type of stress which causes us to be in an almost constant state of fight or flight anxiety.

It becomes difficult to stabilize this kind of stress and we lose ourselves in it, we get used to it, as if being stressed out is normal. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this negative form of stress wreaks havoc not just on our minds, but also on our bodies, our sleep, our digestion.

The main difference between good stress and bad stress is that the good stress pushes us to get things done, and then it dissipates. Bad stress lingers, it causes us to have trouble sleeping, low energy, and a lack of motivation.

The 7 Shortcuts: How to Control Negative Stress and Live the Good Life

1. Shift your distress into good stress

Eustress or good stress is a really positive phenomenon, it gives us ambition and fuels us to meet our goals. The key to embracing eustress and ditching distress and anxiety is shifting the mentality of scarcity to abundance. Remember gratitude, this powerful practice of remembering what we’re thankful for can morph negative stress into positive.

Consider the negative stressors in life are actually challenges to be met on the climb up the mountain of life. We’re all faced with a variety of circumstances which may cause us stress, but it’s up to us to deal with them accordingly. Just because it seems like this burden will never lift, doesn’t mean thats reality.

Challenge yourself to face your setbacks with a smile, and things will get easier from there.

 

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible” -Walt Disney

2. Sleep and eat more

When our cortisol levels are consistently high and we find ourselves in a state of chronic stress, sleeping and eating are usually the first thing to suffer. We skip meals, stay up late, and our bodies suffer the consequences.

Thinking you can get by on little sleep is like putting a band-aid on a war wound. The first step to nourishing and balancing your hormones and adrenal glands is ensuring you get minimum 8 hours of sleep per night.

Take care to wind down before bed time, indulge in non-stimulatory activities like a hot bath or a fiction novel. Allow your mind to relax and wind down before hopping into bed.

Find the time to eat well and often, though the tendency with stress is to skip meals, this isn’t a good long term solution. When our bodies and minds are under a lot of stress they actually use up more nutrients.

Healthy meals should be an enjoyable activity to help balance hormones and feel better.

3. Exercise

Finding the energy to engage in exercise can be hard when we’re overworked and sleep deprived. But when stress is wearing you down it’s one of the most useful tools to help release endorphins, neurotransmitters which give a feeling of happiness and contentment.

Getting enough exercise can also play a role in getting a better nights sleep and relieving anxiety. When you really get into it, exercise of any type is meditative and helps you get the focus off whats causing you to feel stressed out.

Utilizing movement to calm the mind is an excellent strategy for long term health and abundance.

 

 

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4. Write in a journal

Charting our emotions down on paper can really help to bring clarity to the situation. When our minds just won’t shut down, writing is a great tool to stabilize and render inert the senseless worries that our minds contrive.

The thoughts have to go somewhere, so putting them down in a place where there’s no judgement is an exercise in letting go.

 

 

5. Find a healthy balance between time, money and relationships

Life can easily get out of balance when we put all our eggs in one basket. Relationships are another one of the first things to suffer when we are under a lot of stress. But nourishing our relationships is important, overlooking this fact can lead to a loss of support from your partner or family.

Make the time to engage in relaxing activities with those closest to you, this will also help to develop positive stress as we tend to feel more encouraged by our loved ones when we spend quality time together.

Time is your greatest asset, so use it wisely, make a plan and stick with it. Time management is all about focusing on one task until it’s accomplished. Forget about multi-tasking and hone in on your priorities.

 

 

6. Focus on the positive

Sure things get rough sometimes, we all experience this, but think of these challenges as a learning curve. Look at the situation in a positive light.

Have you ever had what you thought was a really bad experience in the moment, only to later find out that had it not happened your life would never be what it is now?

Sometimes great things come out of what is perceived as negative. Keep an open mind and remember nothing is set in stone.

The research surrounding a positive outlook is growing, studies on the topic show that positive thoughts affect our lives to a much greater degree than we may assume. 

One study, showed that over time, positivity compounds and results in increased personal resources and well being.  When positive thoughts are emphasized and we find the strength to meditate on love and joy, our efforts extent far beyond the period of meditation and into all domains of our lives.

 

 

7. Learn to say no

As entrepreneurs the requests placed upon us to bear the brunt of the work can seem endless.

If you’re in the habit of trying to accomplish anything and everything someone asks of you can easily become completely overwhelmed and overworked. Stop before saying yes, always let the person know you’ll get back to them.

Take the time to really ask yourself these three questions before going ahead and saying yes to a new project.

A. Is this something I really need to do?

B. Will saying yes to this project cause higher stress levels and

C. Do I realistically have the time to add this project to my list of to-do’s without compromising my health?

 

 

 

No one ever said we have to say yes to all the demands placed before us. Take heed and proceed with your priorities in check, this is the best way to health hack your way to the good life.

 

 

What are your favorite ways of reducing bad stress?

Can you think of a time when eustress worked in your favor?

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