Top Causes of Stress and How to Beat Them

It has been a busy and fun week with some great coaching in beautiful settings, meetings with potential clients and a Masterclass in Cheshire.

The highlight was the Mental Resilience Masterclass I ran for Auto Legal Protection Ltd (ALPS) in Cheshire. This session was booked by Managing Director Ian Micklewright who saw me deliver this Masterclass at his Vistage Group.

Vistage International

Vistage International is a peer mentoring membership organization for CEOs, business owners and executives of small- to mid-size businesses. Founded in 1957 as The Executive Committee, Vistage has more than 22,000 members in 20 countries.

Since starting out back in 1998, ALPS has become a leading provider of Motor Claims Solutions, Road Rescue Services and Legal Expenses Insurance products to Insurance Brokers, Networks & Intermediaries throughout the UK.

A great business and leadership team

The session itself was a wonderful experience as the leadership team were full of energy and made the whole experience really engaging. We covered the 5 Pillars of Mental Resilience, Stress Management, the Reframe Technique, Gratitude, Confidence Technique, Sleep Technique and the power of a Positive Mindset.

The feedback was really positive, and it made me realise how blessed I am to be able to inspire people with my story and the techniques I share. Chairman and founder Julian Tomlinson and CEO Lee Riley both found the Masterclass to be extremely interesting and very beneficial.

Stress is very real and very damaging

I came across this article recently regarding the top 10 causes of stress which made me think. I have listed the first 3 today and will share the rest in the next blogs.

Top Causes of Stress and How to Beat Them

“Stress is usually caused by too much pressure being put on us by others — or in some cases by ourselves — and if stress is left unchecked, it can lead to an inability to function effectively and cope under pressure. Here are some of the most common causes of stress with solutions and strategies on how to overcome them.

1 Not Having Enough Time

Frequently you can be running around all day trying to balance all your tasks at work and at home, yet still not manage to tick everything off your list. Sometimes this can be due to the demands that are placed upon you being unrealistic, but often it simply comes down to poor time management and not setting your priorities.

Solution: Learn to Manage Your Time More Effectively

It may sound obvious, but better time management really can reduce your stress. Many of us waste a lot of time doing unimportant tasks — so make sure you always prioritise your day and do the important jobs first. Also, do the jobs that you don’t want to do before moving onto the more pleasant tasks, as just thinking about unpleasant jobs can cause stress.

2 Unhealthy Lifestyle

While some people might adopt an unhealthy lifestyle due to lack of time — for example by turning to fast food because they haven’t time to eat properly — others may have an unhealthy lifestyle because they are already stressed — for example by turning to smoking as coping mechanisms. Whatever the reason, an unhealthy lifestyle can reduce your ability to cope with stress, and in some circumstances, it may actually increase your stress levels.

Solution: Make Small Changes Towards A Healthier Lifestyle

Having a healthy diet, doing regular exercise, and getting enough sleep means that your body will be able to cope with the stress that is thrown your way. Exercise in particular can be great for stress relief — especially if it involves taking your stress out on a ball or other inanimate object! Also, by knowing you’re leading a healthy lifestyle, you’ll be in a more positive frame of mind and will be better able to cope.

3 Taking on Too Much

You may have a tendency to take on too much both at work and in your home life, perhaps because you don’t want to let people down. If you do this, however, it will frequently lead to you stressing about having too much to do and not managing to achieve everything you have taken on. Trying to take too much on will also mean you won’t be able to give what you do your best.

Solution: Know Your Limitations and Don’t Take on Too Much

It’s better to be honest and tell people what your true limitations are. This way, you can avoid getting unnecessarily stressed by not taking more on than you can comfortably handle at any given time. It’s better to be slightly cautious rather than end up doing more than you should be doing — and remember it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for a helping hand, so seek help if you need it.”

Thoughts for the week:

1. How do you deal with stress?
2. Consider the three areas I have covered today and make a concerted effort to work on these this week.
3. Just a couple of very small changes maintained consistently can have a huge effect over time.
4. Don’t give up after the first attempt keep working on these and you will live a happier less stressed life.

Well that’s it for this week have a lovely weekend and stay positive.

Warm regards

John

Off the Wall – How to Develop World Class Mental Resilience available HERE
http://www.jdmindcoach.co.uk/product/off-the-wall-how-to-develop-world-class-mental-resilience/ (Special offer. Put in code 10POUND when prompted to receive a signed copy for £10 including postage and packing – UK only)