My stomach was queasy. I couldn’t sleep. My head hurt. I sat in front of my computer and felt dizzy, because stress had moved in and was sitting on me like an elephant. I was facing a hard deadline. Something that could not be moved back or negotiated. This was it. I had to finish writing my dissertation and defend before the end of March. What does a person do with that level of stress? Consequently, in today’s post I’m sharing my top 5 stress management techniques.

 

Problem: The chair and my rear end were repelling each other like when you place like poles of two magnets near each other. I would jump up and pace worriedly, trying to organize my thoughts.

Solution: So I set a timer for 30 minutes. This “forced” me to sit still for 30 minutes. You can do anything for 30 minutes, right? Right!

 

Problem: A thousand thoughts and ideas bounced around in my head and I couldn’t find my “start-button.”

Solution A: So I asked myself: Is the problem highly complex and difficult to conceptualize? If yes, I focus on just the next step. Sometimes that step was download a file or print a document or watch a tutorial. Just focus on the very next step.

Solution B: Is the task boring and tedious? Just plain unpleasant or painful? Remember the big picture. What is my “WHY” Like a meaning-of-life question. Remember the goal. The purpose. Grit your teeth and roll up your sleeves. Set the time for another 30 minutes and just push through.

 

Problem:  The gremlin, that inner critic, convinced me that I was an imposter and not qualified to do this work.

Solution: Take a sunshine break. Get a blanket. Set the timer for 15 minutes and sit outside in the sunshine. No sunshine? No problem. Get a yoga mat and do a pencil stretch or child’s pose or any other stretch.

 

Problem: Sleepless nights plagued me. Yet the next day, I had to be alert, think clearly, write and produce work.

Solution: Get some high quality nutrition. Vitamin B. Green drink. Multi-vitamin. Eat salads. Drink water. Eat well balanced meals. Work for short intervals. 45 minutes and take a short break. Put it on repeat.

 

Problem: Fears shouted loudly drowning out my writing.

Solution: Prayer and mindfulness. I leaned on our church fathers and wrote out the prayers of the Book of Common Prayers. I read these prayers and other promised-filled Scriptures from the Old and New Testament. I read my written prayers because my mind was carrying on like a run-away-horse. I practiced mindfulness. Staying in the present. Listening to the moment. Living now. I reminded myself that there is God, who is greater than me. He is a loving Father.

Solution: Lean on your support group. I went to my sister’s house and cried.

 

I hope these top five stress management techniques help you. They helped me. Contact me if you want to learn more.