Stress management isn’t only about the stress that you can control inside of you- things like your thoughts and your emotions. Instead, it also applies to things outside of your direct control. People, environment and activities all have an impact on you, and even though you cannot actively control them, you can attempt to influence your surroundings in order to facilitate stress management.

Manage Your People

What kind of people do you surround yourself with? Do you meet with girlfriends simply for gossips and complaining? Is your circle of guy friends overly competitive? Does you family feed off you like parasites?

Your daily dealing with others will have an impact on your stress. But, what kind of impact they have is up to you. Sure, you can’t completely get rid of your family and friends, but you can undergo a “clean sweep” and perhaps divest yourself of the more poisonous elements in your life. Can’t spare them? Then at least counter their poison by teaching new behaviors. Too much gossip? Change the subject. Whining children? Teach them ways to help themselves. Exert a little bit of control on this aspect of your life for maximum stress relief.


Manage Your Environment

This is, of course, the biggest area of your life. Everywhere we look we’re surrounded by stuff: paperwork, furniture, clothing, and toys. But how much of this do you really need? Can you spare some of that overflowing closet? Must you really keep that paperwork from last year?

One golden rule that you may want to apply is “If you haven’t touched it in a year, get rid of it!” Of course, this mostly applies to tangible objects; paperwork, bills and other documents need to be given a second look before departure.

Overwhelmed by the prospect of a major trashing? Instead, manage your clutter one room at a time. Choose 10 days within the next 6 months, and designate one day for each room in your house. Comb through your goods and sort them into 3 piles: keep it, trash it or sell it. Of course, your “sell” pile could just as easily be a “giveaway” pile- but you get the idea: get it out of your house. Once you’ve accomplished all ten (or etc.) rooms in your home, you should be able to maintain the lifestyle with a biannual sorting day.

Manage Your Activities

Involved in too much? Join the club. Do your activities align with your life’s purpose? Do they align with your values? Or, are they leftover guilt trips from years past? Audit the activities that you participate in. Are they causing you undo stress? Would you be willing to drop the activity in exchange for more free, unstructured time? If you’re unsure, consider skipping an activity one time. Record how you feel doing so. If you were relieved and devoid of guilt, there may be a good chance that you’ve outgrown this part of your life. Move on.

Managing your life in a positive and proactive way will keep you from managing it in a reactive way, thereby increasing your emotional health and decreasing your stress!

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