Focusing Techniques For Every Challenge

Focusing on one task for a significant period of time can be challenging at the best of times, let alone if you’re stressed. Here are 4 natural ways to manage stress written by Erlanger Turner (PhD) for Psychology Today. In the Western World we’re living in a fast paced and competitive world, in an economic climate that can be regarded as unfavourable to say the least. It’s no wonder that cases of stress are on the rise. Stress is harmful to our mental health and our physical health as a whole. It leads to illness and disease as well as unhappiness, which is why it’s so important to learn how to manage it, before it manages you. These tips are great, and will take only a few minutes of your time to digest.

4 Natural Ways To Manage Stress

1. Understand how you stress.  Stress is experienced and managed differently by each individual. Some things that may be stressful for some may serve as a trigger for others to become productive. It is important for you to know what types of situations make you feel different than you do most of the time. For example, stress may be related to your children, family, health, financial decisions, work, relationships or something else.
2. Find healthy ways to manage stress. The ways in which you cope with stress are unique to your personality. Consider healthy, stress-reducing activities that work best for you such as exercising or talking things out with friends or family, listening to music, writing, or spending time with a friend or relative. Keep in mind that unhealthy behaviors develop over time and can be difficult to change. Don’t take on too much at once. Focus on changing only one behavior at a time

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Unsurprisingly, exercise was featured several times among these 4 natural ways to manage stress. Exercise is the number one activity for emotional renewal according to Tony Schwartz who wrote The Power Of Full Engagement. On a personal level, I cannot think of a better way to alleviate and manage stress. I didn’t start really properly exercising until I was doing my finals at uni in 2003. I’d occasionally play tennis or go for a cycle, but nothing too regular. I got incredibly stressed when revising for these exams and this is when I started running. It was like a miracle cure. I’d reach stalemate when sat at my desk, tear my hair out (those were the days), and after a run I’d feel remarkably refreshed. Exercise is the no. 1 stress reliever for me. It also induces creativity, problem solving, improves your intelligence, makes you happier, slows aging of the brain, slows aging of your organs, fends off disease – to name just a few of the plethora of benefits!