Stress reduction focus areas …

Dealing with the stresses of life can be challenging. Life is loaded with stressors and pressures, sometimes so much so we need to give heightened attention to addressing, reducing, and managing our level of stress.

Reducing and managing stress often takes more than just dealing with your thought life, which is the method most touted. There are actually eight key areas that significantly impact the stress we experience. Dealing with each area is important to genuinely address, reduce, and manage stress. Those areas are:

Knowledge of Temperament
Having a knowledge of your own temperament is having a knowledge of your own needs, which better equips you to meet those needs in an appropriate, “healthy” manner. To have a reliable knowledge of temperament, you will need to work with a counselor who has genuine expertise in this area. But it has been my professional experience that understanding one’s temperament design can have a dramatic impact on a person’s life.

Cognitive Health
Understanding how to think rationally by understanding how we often think irrationally — what cognitive distortions are — and how to gain perspective in your life situations. Learning how to “reframe” your circumstances.

Diet
Making sure you have healthy eating habits (it is always a good idea to consult your physician about dietary changes and patterns). Usually, a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet is best; however, once again, it is best to consult your physician about these matters. For some great insight on nutrition, I recommend the book “Body By God” by Dr. Ken Lerner.

Exercise
Always consult your physician before starting any exercise program. Developing and maintaining a weekly exercise program that includes a level of aerobic exercise and muscular conditioning appropriate for you.

Rest
Having good sleeping patterns, and making sure you get an appropriate amount of sleep. The need for adequate sleep, and its impact on our level of stress (as well as other issues such as the impact a lack of rest has on weight gain or weight management) is often greatly overlooked and under-appreciated.

Relaxation
Taking time for leisure in your life. This needs to be a regular part of your life experience, as with any other aspect of living. This may need to be scheduled in to make sure you take time for leisure.

Recreation
Taking time to play and have fun in life. This is vital to adding perspective to living. This, too, should be scheduled in to make sure it is a part of the full life experience.

Spiritual Health
Having a strong, vibrant and genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, spending time with Him on a daily basis. This should include: (1) daily time in the Bible, (2) a healthy, daily prayer life, (3) fellowship with other believers, and (4) serving in the church. Matthew 11:28-30,“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’.”

Scotty