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We all need to reduce the amount of stress in our lives.
With busy schedules and lifestyles, it’s easy to build anxiety over everyday events.
Stress, although not welcome, is present in every person on earth. However, we do have the ability to control our environment which does help stress, almost to the point of eliminating it.
So what does your environment say about your stress level?
Besides cleaning the house or working out, there are things you can create and do that will allow frustrations and negative energy to flow out. Crafts, projects and other things you enjoy are the perfect way to create an escape from a tough day.
Enjoyable things could be building a breakfast bar, kitchen table, sliding barn door, or covering your wall in brick. On a smaller scale, you could create some mason jar magic, refurbish old barn wood by sketching a picture or slapping some paint on it and see how your sign making skills are.
If you’re more into pictures, then try scrapbooking. Love the idea of making your own curtains? Then join a sewing or quilting class. These are usually offered at a fabric store or you can learn from a friend or family member.
Music, exercise, learning a new language, these are all pleasurable ways of de stressing. No matter your passion or interest it’s a good idea to take the time and refresh your mind leaving the stress behind.
Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that irritating headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the cause.
Mayo Clinic
Common effects of stress
Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Given this information, don’t you wish you could slow down time and enjoy everything? It is possible to take a step back and see what you could change to be more efficient, stay focused, and enjoy things you love like crafting and turning your house into its own masterpiece.
The bridge between the things you want to do and the reason you’re feeling stressed is that you only have so many hours in your day. Trying to get the most out of your day requires that you utilize some time management skills and techniques.
Granted there might be different strategies or techniques to use at different points in your life, but the concept is pretty much the same.
Time management is a huge key no matter what stage you are at. If you can break your day into blocks of time then it allows your mind to focus on what you are doing at the moment.
That’s the biggest reason we stress. There’s always so much to be done and so little time. Some people will get so overwhelmed they just sit and veg out instead of doing anything.
Example: The kids want to play, read or do something with you, but you have other things you need to accomplish first. This might be fixing the refrigerator, starting lunch, or balancing the checkbook, but they don’t understand and keep asking. Your overwhelmed meter starts to hit the peak point before it explodes or deflates, leaving you feeling defeated.
People know when you’re not focused on them. A child can see if you are distracted or crabby as can a spouse or other family member. You need to give quality time to those you care about.
When everything needs to happen while accomplishing daily tasks or spending time crafting, working out, or finishing projects you love. How do we do this?
How do make time for ourselves and others while balancing what time we have? Well, I’m going to give you a scenario as to how this might look.
“Sweetheart I would love to spend quality time with you, but I need to accomplish some things first. After that, you will have all of my attention.”
If you are talking to kids and they are really young without any concept of time you can make a clock out of a paper plate or purchase a clock from the store which the hands will move on. Now that you have a clock. Set the time on theirs, point to the time on the real one and then say something like this.
“When these two hands match up it will be your special time.”
This method can also be used with your spouse minus the clock (that might get you slapped.) The idea is to make time, confirm it with whomever is involved and then you are free to accomplish and focus on everything else that needs to be done or you want to spend time doing.
One VERY, VERY important rule. Follow through and be on time!!!!!!! Building trust with those you care about is worth more than anything else on your day’s schedule. You respect them and in return they respect you. Do not give that up by going 5 minutes over or say, “I’m almost done, I’m almost done.” Not cool. (Ask me how I know.)
Get into a routine. Waking up at the same time each day allows you to make a schedule. If you are all over the place when you go to bed and when you rise, how on earth are you supposed to get anything done?
To keep track of your time each day I have made a Weekly time Management Schedule. This is a weekly chart you can download and print as many times as you like. You, of course, have the option of making your own or use a daily planner. I like to use this one so I can hang it on the refrigerator where everyone can see it.
Sometimes I print a second copy and keep it by my desk. That way I’m reminded when working that it’s time to move onto the next thing. Also, any phone calls that come in I can look at my schedule.
There are only so many hours in the day. If your schedule is full don’t be afraid to tell someone NO. It’s not harsh or unfeeling, it just means you have decided to stay focused on what you already have scheduled.
People will understand and also respect you when you put your priorities in order. No one wants to die from being stressed out and we all want some enjoyment, so take your time and manage it to your advantage or your families.
Summary
- Have a routine
- Schedule your time.
- Build trust with those you have scheduled by keeping your word.
- Be on time.
- Don’t be afraid to say NO.
- Make time for crafts, projects, working out, or other things that you enjoy.
If you follow these steps, I promise you will be more focused, less frustrated and stressed, you will not feel guilty and everything that needs to be accomplished will be (sickness and illness not included.)
Wishing you the best – Heather Earles
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