Wouldn’t it be nice if you could manage your stress levels and change your response to stressful events? The following relaxation technique for stress management will provide you with the tools you need to help reduce the amount of stress in your life.
Here’s the first of my relaxation techniques for stress management…
Relaxation Technique #1: Alternate Responses
This technique works with all aspects of your life, but you should focus on only one at a time. I’ve included a table after each step to clarify this technique.
1- Starting with your home life, list all incidents where stress affects you.
|
Time of Stress
|
Stress Trigger
|
Typical Response
|
Alternate Response
|
|---|---|---|---|
Winter Holidays |
|||
Family Vacation |
|||
Move |
2- Try to mentally relive some of these moments and pin-point the causes of stress (or stress triggers) for each of these times of stress.
|
Time of Stress
|
Stress Trigger
|
Typical Response
|
Alternate Response
|
|---|---|---|---|
Winter Holidays |
Trying to meet everyone’s expectations
Buying gifts, food, etc. Booking flights and accommodations Paying Bills |
||
Family Vacation |
Making time for everyone to do the activities they enjoy
Losing luggage |
||
Move |
New Neighborhood
Forgetting to change some addresses Damaged belongings |
3- In the next column, try to describe how you normally deal with these stress triggers.
|
Time of Stress
|
Stress Trigger
|
Typical Response
|
Alternate Response
|
|---|---|---|---|
Winter Holidays |
Trying to meet everyone’s expectations
Buying gifts, food, etc. Booking flights and accommodations Paying Bills |
Buy lots of presents
Postpone shopping until Dec Book flights and accommodations late fall Pay minimum balance or more if I can afford it |
|
Family Vacation |
Making time for everyone to do the activities they enjoy
Losing luggage |
Bring more money
Hope it doesn’t happen |
|
Move |
New Neighborhood
Forgetting to change some addresses Damaged belongings |
Hope for the best |
4- Finally, you have to think about ways to make the stress triggers appear smaller or insignificant. Try to keep it realistic but keep in mind that your lifestyle may be the cause of stress, and as such, lifestyle adjustments may have to be made. Relaxation techniques for stress management do involve a little bit of effort from your part…
|
Time of Stress
|
Stress Trigger
|
Typical Response
|
Alternate Response
|
|---|---|---|---|
Winter Holidays |
Trying to meet everyone’s expectations
Buying gifts, food, etc. Booking flights and accommodations Paying Bills |
Buy lots of presents
Postpone shopping until Dec Book flights and accommodations late fall Pay minimum balance or more if I can afford it |
Start making list and shopping in July.
Book rooms and flights in summer Put some money in a holiday savings plan every month |
Family Vacation |
Making time for everyone to do the activities they enjoy
Losing luggage |
Bring more money
Hope it doesn’t happen |
Book extra activities that your family will like ahead of time
Pack all essentials and enough clothes for a day in your carry-on luggage |
Move |
New Neighborhood
Forgetting to change some addresses Damaged belongings |
Hope for the best | Get involved with new community
Walk or cycle in your new neighbourhood Use the postal office to redirect your mail Use professional movers and pack extra carefully |
5- Repeat for work related stress triggers.
6- When these stress triggers reappear in your life, avoid acting the “old way” and try your “alternate response.”
Discover Other Relaxation Techniques for Stress Management
You can also learn how to deal with stress with this great information:
- 6 Ways to Stress Less
- 5 Ways to Relieve Stress
- Stress Management Tips
- Top Ten Tips for Relaxation
- Stress Related Symptoms
- Stress Relaxation Exercise
- Learn How to Relieve Stress
- Stress Relief Techniques for Technology-Related Stress
- Stress Management Article
- Stress Side Effects
- Discover The Major Cause of Stress In Your Life