Identify Stressors In Your life

The first step to bring stress under control is to identify it.  Regardless of how much stress you have in your life, being able to identify it will be a tremendous help. Once stress is identified then it’s time to identify effective coping skills.

Keep a Stress Diary

Committing to keeping a stress diary will help you gain clarity into when and how you react to stress.  This insight allows a better channel for your emotional and physical energy.

Record in your stress diary daily.  Even on the days you don’t feel stressed.  It will be good to be able to review those great feeling days and see what made them so great.  The stress diary gives you valuable insight helping you to manage your stress more effectively.

Date and time each entry. 

• What are you feeling right now?  What did you feel earlier in the day.  Pick words the accurately describe your emotions. 
• How did you handle the stressful situation? 
• Was there a better way to handle those stressful events? 

At the end of each week go back through your stress diary and analyze your stress pattern.  Are you experiencing more stress in the morning, or evening?  Does you work create more stress.  Whatever the answer by making a few adjustments you can proactively handle those day to day stressors.