Hello my friends,
Welcome back to your weekly mental health check! This week, we’re diving into three powerful ways to reduce stress.
The psychologist Richard Lazarus divided coping with stress into two categories: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. When faced with a stressful situation, we can either look for solutions to the problem or deal with our emotions. The German scientist Gert Kaluza recommended a third option in his book: regenerative coping. This means we don’t change the problem or how we think about it – instead, we find ways to rest and recharge.
For me, it depends on the type of stressor. For work related stress it works best for me to power through the day and go for a run in the evening (when that is possible, with small children!). At home, when it comes to stress regarding my children, I often don’t have the opportunity to take a break or delegate anything. But this is often highly emotional stress – and it helps me to reframe the situation when I start getting stressed. My children are small, they need me, I am the centre of their world. When I am old and fragile I will remember this, and despite the exhausting times, long back for these days.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade “
Now think about what is currently causing stress in your life. Is it something at work? Or is something in your private life causing anxiety and worry? Next, ask yourself: what can I do about this stressor? Can I solve the problem causing the stress (such as reducing workload or delegating tasks)? Should I change my thoughts and emotions around the stressor (such as reframing or accepting the emotions)? Or should I find a way to recharge from my stressful life (through sports, activities, hobbies, or catching up with friends)? Your challenge: identify one stressor causing you anxiety or anger – and pick one strategy to practise coping with it over the next week.
Stay tuned for next week’s topic, where we will look at how striving for happiness can make us unhappy.
Take care – and take charge!
See you next week,
It’s me, Jules, your biggest fan
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