7 Steps to a stress-less day
According to Kirk Macdonald, instructor of the Continuing Education seminar, Stress Less: Managing What’s on Your Mind, the key to managing your stress is to understand that it starts with you.
So… here are Macdonald’s suggestions for seven things you can do to create a less stressful environment today… and every day.
- Upon waking, set your intention for the day. If you’re going to create a story anyway, why not make it a good one?
- Arrive early to work. (Just minutes will do.) Allow yourself time to transition from one environment to the next.
- Take ‘mindful minutes’ throughout the day. Between meetings, lunch time, between tasks, take a moment to close your eyes, take a few cleansing breaths, and let tension fall away for just a moment.
- Avoid multi tasking. Instead, do each task well and with focus.
- Communicate clearly with co-workers. Be a committed speaker and committed listener. This will reduce the risk of unmet expectations.
- Care for your body. Eat, drink and move throughout the day. Stress is a physical manifestation as well as emotional.
- Take 5 minutes to decompress at the end of the day. Push back from your desk, close your eyes, take a few cleansing breaths and create a new intention for the rest of your day.
“Stress in inevitable. Stress management is optional,” says Macdonald. “It’s up to you to manage it well and create the life outcomes that you most desire.”
If you are interested in reducing your stress level, enrol today in Stress Less: Managing What’s on Your Mind. The seminar runs April 18th, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the downtown campus. Macdonald is a certified ICF and Newfield coach and a retired sergeant from the Calgary Police Service. His priority is for his seminar participants to gain a greater sense of self awareness and to leave with a plan to benefit themselves and others.
This story originally appeared in our March 2016 Newsletter. Click here to view the newsletter, and here to subscribe.
