Stress is OK. 7 ideas to stay calm when you’re stressed

Stress causes your body to be alert and ready for action. You must feel that your mind and body can handle the work. You can do so through these 7 simple ideas. You will experience less stress.

For many people, stress is something of a natural part of their lives. The latest findings also indicate that stress is not necessarily wrong. Of course, “too much” is not good but that is true of anything that is “too much.”

Stress causes your body to be alert and ready for action. You have to feel like your mind and body can handle the work. I have collected 7 simple thoughts that helps people be “in-control” of their stress.

Idea 1
Adopt an optimistic approach

There are, oddly enough, thoughts that are less prone to stress. These are thoughts that you have during activities that you very much enjoy doing or are going to do.

The project you did a fantastic job on or maybe that great vacation you are about to embark on? If you’re a little busier than usual it can be helpful to focus on that pleasant thought for a brief moment.

A study (Bradberry, 2014) found that more than 90% of top performers took some sort of pleasure in scrutinizing and influencing their emotions in this way. Also, try daydreaming a little when things get exciting for you.

Idea 2
Patience is a virtue

‘Haste makes waste’. Choose the natural process and influence what you can influence within your capabilities. You will see that much more is possible in your work as a result. You may learn not to always want to go so fast.

Stress occurs because you find or feel that it could all be done much faster. It makes you agitated. Those are the moments to take your foot off the pedal. Get your own pace down by doing something else for a small moment. This distracts your mind in a pleasant way.

Idea 3
Actively value what you have

You can look at your professional world like this: just look back and discover where you already are and what you already have. This provides a sense of mastery and appreciation.

This is better for your stress reduction than wondering all about what else you all want. Only half of your success depends on your IQ. The rest consists of your ability to connect with other people, influence your thoughts and emotions and how you know how to regulate stress.

Idea 4
Hard work won’t kill you.

When you’re hard at work, your brain doesn’t have time to think about stress. You are enjoying your work and you need your full brain capacity to complete the task.

You’ve probably noticed that yourself. So a good idea to stay calm is to focus on a (challenging) task that needs your full attention. Immerse yourself completely in it that day and before you realize it, the day is over. In doing so, create your own “flow” moment. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1998.)

Idea 5
working 24/7 is really nonsense

True professionals leave their work where it belongs; in the office. They are able to “disconnect” from work. They choose not to take work to their home with them.

They simply turn off their phone between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. or check their email “only” three times a day instead of every five minutes. The word “choose” is common in the vocabulary of the true professional….

Idea 6
Preparation is half the battle for less stress

Preparation is 1 of the most important keys to doing your job well and….. it works great to have less stress. Go through your day in advance in your mind or practice your presentation in the mirror beforehand.

Did you know that fighter pilots have already performed every flight they make in their minds? I think for many people the stress comes out because they are not ready (yet) for what is coming at them that day.

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Idea 7
Finally, are you happy with yourself?

The best tip, but perhaps immediately the most difficult for some, is to be content. Content with yourself (with things you can do well and with things you can do less well) and content with the world around you.

To be honest: sometimes that is still quite an art and maybe difficult to achieve. The upside of it, is that this is about the most effective way to stay calm and experience less stress. Quite something to work on, but how do you do it?

By (getting to) know yourself well and by realizing what is within your control and recognizing what is outside of your control. If you manage to be satisfied then not only your work becomes easier but also your life. That too is a form of choice that you can do just fine by yourself. I grant you a little less stress in the process.