Stop Stress Now:

Here's How

Yes, times are tough, but you can worry less. Just follow this three-step stress-buster.

1. Know what causes stress.

Stress doesn’t just “happen” to you. Stressful thoughts cause stress. And they notoriously begin with “what if?” (“What if I lose my job”, or “What if we lose our house?”)

2. Become a detective in your head at catching every “what if…” thought.

Name that thought for what it really is: A thought that is trying to stress you out. (Yell at it: “Hey I caught you , you sneaky little stress thought!”)

3. Do one or all of the following:

(A) Make a stress-reduction plan to attack the thought. If you’re stressed about your job, make a plan that includes speaking with your boss about how you’re doing, strategize

about what you could be doing to enhance your job security, find out about the financial outlook of the company or employer, get your resume up to date, and check out job postings in your field. Each time the stress thought rears its ugly head remind it that you already have a great plan of action for that thought. Take that, stress thought!

(B) Take an action for distraction. Go running or fast-walking, get to the gym, sweat it out, play a game or musical instrument, make plans with friends, clean out the messiest closet in your home, etc.

(C) Meditate or take some deep, cleansing breaths and float away in your mind

(D) Ask yourself: What is the worst that could happen? What am I so afraid of? What actions would I take if the worst happened? Get yourself thinking of what you would do. Action is the great healer of stress thoughts.