Build A Healthy Stress Mindset

In my last post, Triage Your Busy Life, I shared about planning and managing your tasks in a similar manner that the emergency room in hospitals use, i.e. using the the triage system. This type of management of work, studies and family tasks helps reduce the overall stress that we experience when we are faced with a wide range of tasks that we need to manage within a work/school week.

Stress is actually a natural human response to the pressures and challenges that life presents. How we address and manage the stress that comes with leading and managing dynamic teams, family members, friendships and general tasks linked to our day to day life is critical to not only our own mental and physical health but also the mental and physical health of those around us.

In Chapter 13 of her book Think, Learn, Succeed (understanding and using your mind to thrive at school, the workplace and life) Dr Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist, highlights the importance of having a healthy stress mindset. She notes that when one faces a challenging situation with a “glass half full” attitude, the blood vessels around their heart dilates. This results in an increased flow of blood which in turn means that more oxygen flows to the brain which then results in an increase in one’s cognitive fluency & clarity of thought — this is what enables you to face a challenge and overcome it.

However, when viewing life with a “glass half empty” outlook, the opposite will happen and the stress will work against you.

If you are constantly stressed about stress, the stress will become an obstacle on your path to success. It is, thus, important that you change how you view the world and the stress in general so that you can face the challenges that life will throw your way.

Below are 8 steps Dr Leaf recommends that we can use to build our resilience to stress:

1. Embrace stress

2. Do a mental autopsy

3. Manage your expectations

4. Have a support system in place

5. Take responsibility

6. Take care of your body

7. Use your imagination

8. Take mental health breaks throughout the day

You can click the link to read comprehensive explanations of the steps listed above on Dr Leaf's blog: https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/8-simple-steps-to-build-up-your-stress-resilience

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"

John 16:33

FN

"In Him we live & breathe & have our being"