Fun Friday: Stress-Busting Strategies For Resilience, Renewal, And Recovery

Hi,

Friday is perfect to chat about today’s topic!

I’ve called it “Fun Friday” for a specific reason.

Yes, STRESS is the topic! You will see that what we talk about today will create a lot of fun, enjoyment, and energy in your life…and hopefully a bit less stress.

Now that’s something worth exploring!

It’s no secret that stress is everywhere. Ironically, people stress themselves out each day trying to eliminate it.

The reality is that stress is normal, part of everyday life, and actually essential for your success.

When we realize this, and truly understand it, we are freed from trying to eliminate the stress in our lives. We can then focus on effective management of the sources of our stress, and even use it to our advantage to accomplish our biggest goals.

Effectively managing your stress gives you the resilience, renewal, and recovery you need to perform at your best while helping you gain perspective on what’s most important in life.

Without effective stress management, life starts to suck.

Too many clients we see walk into our studio at FRESH! are stressed, overwhelmed, and poorly managing their energy/health. Without the strategies and interventions we facilitate, eventually their body (and/or mind) would break down and force them into a rest/recovery state.

To paraphrase Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby, “Those who don’t find time for health and self-care, will be forced to make time for illness.

While we won’t dive into all the aspects of stress, I want to highlight a few key points from one of my most popular Workplace Wellness seminars titled “Is Stress Making Your Pants Tight?” Could your company benefit from a session like this?

Here’s what we will cover…

  • Coping strategies
  • The Stress Spiral
  • The Natural Stress Cycle

Coping Strategies

There are many coping strategies, but they generally fall into two different categories.

  • Constructive
  • Destructive

Constructive strategies include exercise, sleep, relaxation, meditation, goal setting, gratitude, counselling, laughter, listening to music, reading, and many more.

Destructive coping strategies include: drinking, drugs, instigating conflict, avoidance, etc.

Each person will have strategies that work best for them, but the key is to find the best constructive ones you can, and use them at every opportunity.

The Stress Spiral

The stress spiral is a common situation. We’ve all experienced it at one time or another, but the key to reversing it is awareness, and being proactive as soon as it is identified.

When stress begins to overwhelm us, we become fatigued. This also happens when we neglect our self-care (such as sleep).

When fatigued, we become inefficient in our work and home life.

This inefficiency means we must work harder and longer to get the same amount of work done.

Working harder and longer means we get less rest, recover, and leisure time.

This feeds back onto itself to create more fatigue, inefficiency, work, and stress.

The further down this spiral we get, the more repercussions we experience, and the harder it is to reverse.

Effective coping strategies, and understanding the Natural Stress Cycle are keys to reversing and managing stress spirals.

The Natural Stress Cycle

As mentioned, stress is a normal part of life.

Without it, we wouldn’t get anything accomplished. However, when pushed hard, the body needs rest and recovery.

When rest and recovery happens at natural intervals, and we are using effective coping strategies, we can accomplish great things, even under high levels of stress.

This includes taking short breaks each day, getting proper rest at night, enjoying weekends, unplugging from technology, taking regular vacations, and even taking extended sabbaticals throughout life.

My business coach understands this. He has his clients work in 100 day sprints followed by short periods of rest, recovery, regeneration, and celebration.

The start of this year was a crazy sprint for me. I’ve just finished a somewhat extended time away from work, and I’m back with amazing energy, enthusiasm, and focus to accomplish my goals this year.

Understanding, and strategically planning to incorporate this concept into your life and work will be extremely helpful in your future health, happiness, and success.

Gratitude, Travel, and FUN!

Gratitude is a coping strategy that provides benefits in a wide range of areas.

The practice of gratitude helps provide an often needed perspective realignment around your current situation in life. Plus, it trains your brain to identify positivity and areas of opportunity, while helping managing stress, uncertainty, and feelings of overwhelm

One of my colleagues in the industry, Scott Colby, is an expert in gratitude. He even started a company called “Say it With Gratitude”, and is writing a soon to be released book to help people express more gratitude throughout their life.

I was excited to find out that he is holding his first ever “Gratitude Trek” in late August. It’s a 4 day, 3 night, unplugged trek in the Sierra mountains with amazing people and great food.

If you are feeling stressed and in need of a break, this could be a great option for you.

Here’s what Scott has to say…

IMAGINE THIS…

You wake up in a peaceful mountain setting, coffee in hand, looking out over a panorama of wildflower meadows, pristine lakes and the beautiful Sierra Mountains. No email. No smartphone. No internet. Just relaxation, adventure, good people, and delicious food.

Introducing the first ever Unplugged Gratitude Trek in the beautiful Sierra Mountains.

Here’s the link: https://sayitwithgratitude.com/pages/gratitude-trek-in-the-sierra-mountains

Hopefully you can make the trek. I would be there, but am already away with family at that time. Remember to take care of yourself. That includes your body, mind, and energy.

Have an amazing weekend!

Tim Borys
CEO
FRESH! Wellness Group

P.S. Do you feel your company would benefit from a seminar such as “Is Stress Making Your Pants Tight?”. If so, I would love to connect with you to chat about getting in touch with the right people.

Please click here so we can connect. I appreciate your help.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *