There are many ways to manage stress. Naturally, some of the most appealing choices involve lying on a white sandy beach with a cocktail or even soaking in a lovely, hot bath. However, implementing more practical skills may be the more effective route.
A recent international survey confirmed that planning was the single most powerful method for reducing stress because it prevents tensions from building up in the first place. Therefore, rather than being reactive when your stress levels rise, you want to be more proactive about creating peace and calm.
Stress often makes you feel that everything you do is out of your control, though by deciding to start planning your activities, you begin to feel in control again. Knowing your plans daily, weekly, and monthly can minimise unforeseen obstacles from getting in your way. To be consistent, pick the same day each week when you have time to prioritise and schedule what must be done daily for the week or month ahead.
Planning and scheduling enable you to reduce the possibility of procrastination, saving you valuable time. When you prioritise the schedule, do it in small chunks of time, which, when you achieve each goal, builds on your motivation and confidence to complete everything you have set out.
Prioritising and scheduling help you decide what is urgent and necessary but not urgent to be completed immediately. Having clear deadlines makes this part more manageable, and being clear about what needs to be completed daily increases your chances of completing all tasks within the desired timeframe.
Achieving the workload, you set out reduces your stress levels, reducing your chance of suffering from stress-related illnesses such as heart conditions, diabetes or other serious health issues. Therefore, planning motivates you better and looks after your mental and physical health.
Start by working your way down this checklist, which provides tips on planning better to prevent your stress levels from rising.
How Planning Reduces Stress:
Tips for Stress Reduction through Planning:
1. Track your time. The first step is to figure out where your time is currently going. Keep an online diary or a journal, or use a free app for at least a few weeks. You may be surprised by how long some simple tasks take.
2. Structure your activities. Once you understand your typical day, you can make adjustments. Maybe you can switch more demanding projects to the hours you’re at your peak. Perhaps you can squeeze in the workout program you’ve been promising yourself.
3. Organize your stuff. Clutter bombards your senses and causes anxiety. Pare down your possessions. Implement storage solutions for your home and office; check on YouTube for free ideas on how to do this.
4. Write things down. Do you have trouble concentrating because you’re trying to remember when your son or daughter’s football practice starts and whether you have enough bread for toast for breakfast? Put those items into calendars and lists so you can focus on other things.
5. Set priorities. There’s more to planning than completing tasks. Think about your values and goals. Ensure any system you use gives you the ultimate results you seek, whether spending more time with your loved ones, enjoying your hobby or adopting a healthier lifestyle.
6. Manage your commitments. You may find that you must strike some items off your to-do list if you have too many obligations. Make your to-do list a today list by only adding things each day that you know need to be done that day. Respecting your limits will make you more accomplished and dependable.
7. Establish routines. When you make an activity automatic, you operate more efficiently and reduce the stress of making extra decisions. Group similar errands and tasks together so you can do them with less thought. Resolve to run before breakfast each morning instead of going through a daily struggle to resist the snooze button.
8. Schedule downtime. Planning has its fun side too. Give yourself frequent breaks to refresh your body and mind. Ensure your lists and calendars include opportunities for play and laughter.
Stress management and time management are closely related, and planning is the key to using your time well. To become more relaxed and productive, think positively and plan ahead.
Tony Gordon
www.changingyourmindltd.com
tonygordon@changingyourmindltd.com
https://linktr.ee/acdg1
I am a certified wellbeing practitioner and coach, helping my clients achieve their personal and professional goals. The essence of my work is to facilitate self-growth by helping you identify the core challenges and obstacles in your life, so that you can overcome them with confidence. I specialise in creating personalised plans and providing tools to guide you forward to achieve your desired goals.
