3 Steps to Better Handle Stress

Stress is sneaky. One day, it feels manageable, and the next, you’re face down in a bowl of ice cream, swearing you can’t survive one more day. (Just me with the ice cream?)

So what do we do when the stress gets too high… when we feel we are on the brink of “too much”? 

To be honest, my answer used to be: WORK HARDER. PUSH THROUGH. I would implement better systems of organization, delegate items off my task list, and put in extra hours to “catch up”. I believed these work harder tactics would alleviate the heavy feeling in my heart, but they rarely made much of a difference. 

I’ve had to learn to handle stress differently. My work with the Enneagram has helped me know what I actually need when stress enters the picture. 

Here are 3 strategies that I hope can help you, too!

1. Breathe

(Oh man, this one used to feel so silly to me. I thought, “What a waste of time when I could be getting something done! “) Stress happens IN YOUR BODY, and so you must be present in your body to address it. Taking several deep breaths allows your body to process and regulate.

2. Balance

Which brings me to this point: We must engage our body, emotions, and thoughts when handling stress. My former strategy of staying stuck in emotional overwhelm while brainstorming more ways to handle the stress was never going to be enough.

*Be honest with your feelings. Write them down. Pray. Journal. (whatever it takes to acknowledge and give your feelings the attention they require). 

*Engage your body through breathing, grounding, exercise, or a walk. 

*Once you’ve done those two steps, allow your mind to think of creative and productive solutions. 

When you engage all three centers of intelligence, you might be surprised at how much your inner self already knows what you need.

3. Play

Here’s the fun one! What did you love to do as a kid? What qualities have you lost a bit since childhood? Did you know that your Enneagram number will point you back to your childhood wholeness? 
1s- do something spontaneously fun
2s- do a ‘selfishly’ creative project (it’s not actually selfish)
3s- do something you enjoy that has nothing to do with accomplishing your goals. 
4s- organize/remodel/create something that makes the world better
5s- make a generous and bold move
6s- let someone else make the plans- banish fear and doubt for the entirety of the experience. 
7s- spend time alone focused on reading or learning something you are interested in (but has nothing to do with your future plans) 
8s- gently help someone who can’t help you back
9s- go do whatever you want to do without consulting anyone

These versions of “play” will be different for everyone! I’ll share with you next week what I’ve chosen for play recently.  

I’d love to hear back from you!
What do you need to do to handle stress more effectively? 
Did you find a way to play? What did you choose?