Reduce your stress levels in days
It's not just you. We are ALL burnt out!
Everyone needs more than anyone can give. Everyone hates what is going on in the world and hates “everyone else” more. Everyone is burnt out, tired, run down, putting down the firehoses and letting things burn around them, giving up.
We are everyone, and we need to shut out the world for a minute and do one task! It’ll take the edge off instantly.
Step 1: How to identify your stressors.
Get yourself a piece of paper, a notebook, a slip of whatever you have – and a pen. It is stronger if done on paper, WAY stronger! Don’t even bother doing it on a computer or phone or tablet – it won’t have anywhere near the same benefit. It has to be physical. Carve it into stone if you have to!
Got that paper and pen? Great. Let’s take that edge off.
I want you to write down allllllll of your problems – one per line. Write it small, you’ll need space to write a few more things next to it.
Write down every person, place, or thing that's bugging/worrying you. Or stressing you. Or causing you to pull your hair out.
School
Work – boss
Work – Project 1
Work – Project 2
Kid 1
Kid 2
Pets
Health
Car
Hobby
Parent 1
Politics
Friend 1
I want you to think about each one individually.
Number them with a stress level of 1-10. A 1 means “Meh, just gotta get it dealt with tonight, like laundry, off the list of shit to do.” A 10 is “pulling my hair out, so frustrated and lost and about to break down.”
DO NOT NUMBER THEM SEQUENTIALLY, give EACH a 1-10 number individually!
Step 2: Working down the stressors
Here’s the thing…
People start suffering health effects from stress when 5 of these exist at a self-determined stress level of 8 or more.
How many of yours are 8+? If you have more than 5 (and I bet you have more like 15)…that’s the reason you’re burnt out and ready to give up.
But it’s changeable.
You have some measure of control over these things. Whether that’s by making a few calls to a few of your representatives, dumping a person from your life, making some clear steps to finish a work project…whatever.
Here’s the stress reducing steps:
- Take 1 of those stressors that are at a level 8+. Next to the number, write down one step that you can do that will reduce that number by 2 points. Do this with two things on your list.
- Then, go tackle those two things immediately. Get them off your list. Once done, come back and cross them off – and then take a break and celebrate just a tiny bit!
- Repeat this no more than twice daily. Remember, your brain and body needs rest. And reorganizing upon those stressors being reduced. Let it have time to do so…take a walk, listen to music, watch a movie -whatever relaxes you.
- Lastly, say this out loud to yourself…
"I have done enough today. I have accomplished my given tasks. I have done well."
If you work just a few days on your list, you’ll reduce your stressors by loads in the process. Weirdly, by reducing the stress in one category, it sometimes has a domino effect which takes down other stresses by a few points even if you haven’t worked on them yet!
Last step: Once a week or so, evaluate the stress numbers on everything. You may find the numbers have lessened on their own.
Do this stress reducing exercise once a month. More will pop up in your life even as you work down your stressors! Add them on as you go or restart the list per month. You’ll soon find yourself way more in control of your life and able to handle what life throws at you.
Did this work for you? Send a contact email to me if it did! I’d love to know!