Spring is a time of renewal in so many ways. It is a time when nature’s beauty comes back to life. Grass is green once more, buds appear on the very tree limbs that appeared lifeless just a few weeks ago, and the air is warmer than in the past. This is an appropriate time to evaluate what changes you can be making in your life. You might try practices such as “spring cleaning”, rearranging furniture, committing to an exercise program, or setting new goals for yourself or your family. These efforts will make for a more productive and enjoyable spring season.
More specifically, as you are evaluating the changes you can make, determine what kind of financial road blocks you want to overcome. What changes can you make that will further advance you to where you wish to be financially? Tell your coach about these goals. During this time of change occurring all around you, let Prosper, Inc. help you make changes in your own life.
Sincerely,
Your Friends at Prosper, Inc.
Maintaining A Healthy Dose Managing Your Stress Level To Achieve Maximum Performance
Stress is inevitable. We all have to deal with it. It is how we deal with stress that determines whether we succeed or fall victim to the negative side effects stress is known for.
The continuous management of stress is the key to high performance. The people that manage stress well are rewarded in all aspects of their life. The people who don’t manage it well encounter illness, depression and frustration. Letting stresses build and multiply only intensifies these feelings.
Many times we program ourselves for poor stress management. By getting in the habit of always rushing and never taking time for ourselves, we fall into a rut. We try and cram more and more into each day and each hour. We stop taking breaks that we need to perform necessary self-evaluations.
Great stress management is a minute-by-minute task. By effectively managing stress in the moment it arises, we program our minds to be more creative and to achieve more. We also learn strategies to cope with other problems that we may encounter in the future. By taking care of the stresses as they arise, we can avoid the figurative "logjam" of pressures that can lead to an emotional disaster.
We all have a wide variety of goals and ambitions, the more effective we are at managing stress, the more focused we will be to pursue those ambitions. We will ultimately be able to do more in less time. The following tips should give you direction on managing stress and making yourself more productive.
Take Time For Yourself Give yourself an hour or two in the morning. Accomplish small, easy goals during this time. Meditate. Relax. By taking time in the morning for yourself, you will not start off stressed. You will be more effective the rest of the day. If you are religious, take the time to pray.
Eat Right Eat a healthy breakfast. What happens at breakfast can determine your level of sleep at night. Control your intake of sugars, caffeine, alcohol and other stimulants. Try replacing coffee throughout the day with fruit juice. What you put in your body has a profound impact on your mind. Eat regularly. Take a lunch break. Dietary problems can cause stress and anxiety.
Exercise Engage regularly in noncompetitive exercise. Take a walk or a run in the morning or afternoon. Increasing your heart rate and taking deep breaths are key elements to relieving excess stress. If unable to get out, practice deep-breathing techniques and stretch in your office.
Make A Plan Set your priorities and plan your day accordingly. Effective time management will reduce stress and make you more effective. Give yourself time to accomplish your tasks. Plan breaks during the day. Don’t over schedule yourself. You will find that you will accomplish more in less time.
Use Stress To Develop Yourself Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but just as the right amount of exercise builds your body; stress, when managed correctly, can develop and fortify your character. View stressful situations as a learning experience. Take time to evaluate yourself and see what stress is doing to you. Stress can make you more effective, but if you lose control, it will wear you down.
Control Your Environment Avoid unnecessary stress in your life. Limit the time you spend with people that consistently cause your stress level to rise. If possible, limit the amount of excess noise around you. Listen to relaxing music. If something around you is causing you unnecessary stress, excuse yourself and gain your composure.
Celebrate The Little Things Take time to "smell the roses". Give yourself a pat on the back when you finish a tough task. Accept praise. Develop a variety of gratifications in your life; it could range from family and friends to working on hobbies and interests. Take an occasional vacation or long weekend, just to relax.
Be Assertive Express yourself. Make your needs and differences known in a peaceful, uplifting manner. Learn the power of "no". Accept the fact that you are not perfect and you cannot do everything. Ask for help or further direction when dealing with difficult or new tasks.
Keep Your Perspective When you get stressed, ask yourself, "How important is this?" "Will the result of this matter in a year?" Focus on the most important issues and let the little things slide if you need to. Take the time to show kindness and consideration.
Accept And Embrace Change Change is another necessary part of life. When your plans don’t work, go with the flow. Be willing to change your plans on a moment’s notice.
By learning stress management techniques, you can be more productive in your life. You will discover that you are able to accomplish more in less time. Your relationships will also reap the benefits.
Stress is inevitable. We all have to deal with it. It is how we deal with stress that determines whether we succeed or fall victim to the negative side effects stress is known for.