So many times we make decisions that keep us stressed out and unhappy, instead of allowing ourselves to say yes to choices that provide us with more fun and freedom in our lives. Typically when you are making one of those decisions that is going to contribute to your stress level, you will feel it in your body — it may show up as a headache or tension in your chest or even a twisting in your stomach. Pay attention to those cues! If you are feeling any of these things than it is important that you pause and reconsider your options! Here are some ways that we can keep our stress level high.
1. Constantly tell everyone how stressed out you are all the time
This is a SUREFIRE way to make you feel more stressed because you will ALWAYS be talking about all the things that are going wrong for you and all the problems you have that you can’t seem to solve. You will feel even worse if you tell everyone how there is nothing you can do to change these things. Talking about these difficulties all of the time without the intention of changing your mindset (instead of actually taking action steps to try something different) will definitely help your stress grow.
2. Say yes to things that you don’t want to do
This will definitely keep your stress level high because you will be spending a lot of your time doing things that don’t make you happy, keep you bored, are with people you don’t care for, and a lot of other unhappy scenarios that will keep your energy level low and unhappiness level high. You will probably feel overwhelmed because you will be saying yes to things you don’t have time for instead of spending time on
3. Don’t let anyone help you
How many times have you been stuck in a not so great situation or felt overwhelmed with all you had to do when you had a good friend or family offer to help you out? Saying no to them and attempting to do everything on your own will definitely lead to you being overwhelmed and overextended. It will also mean that you will take the responsibility for everything and you will end up feeling pretty lonely in the process because you will never have anyone going through it with you. And your friends/family/support system will get tired of hearing no and stop offering to help.
4. Keep on doing the same old thing
If you want to stay stressed, then you can just continue to do what you have been doing. Things don’t magically change on their own so to keep your stress level high, don’t change a thing, don’t try anything new, and don’t expect things to be different.
What do you do in your life that keeps you stressed out? Let me know in the comments below so I can help!
Yes totally! I have been guilty of doing all of those – especially when I lived and working in London doing a high powered job that I hated! I think something was telling me something! Thanks for this it really makes me glad I am no longer like I used to be. 🙂
So glad you were able to leave what was making you miserable!! It’s amazing how long we can stay in something we hate just because of how scary/hard it can be to change things — good for you for doing that!
It is so true that the body never lies! I used to be in a high pressure corporate job where I had trouble sleeping at night and I just felt a general sense of overwhelming anxiety all the time. I’ve since slowed way down and now I’m much happier for it.
I love that you point out how doing things you don’t want to do creates stress. I used to do so many things out of obligation. Then I wondered why I didn’t have that much fun. Duh! I finally figured out that life is way too short to always be doing things to make other people happy. Great article!
It’s so true — we won’t be doing anybody any good if we try to do things for them while we are miserable and stressed!
Ignoring physical pain/discomfort is definitely another way to stay stressed ! I should add that to the list.
Good points! I’ve done all four. My favorite on the list is #1. Our thoughts determine how we see the world. This is made evident to me over and over. After a major life change a few years ago, I inadvertently gave up 2-4. Still have to work on #1. The thing about my thinking that annoys me the most is that the thing I most often reinforce stress about is the thing that has been the greatest gift to me. I know this, but I forget all the time. Today I will only speak of this gift with gratitude and acceptance.
YES!!! I’ve been telling people for years if you keep saying you’re stressed you WILL always be stressed. I’m still working on #4 and trying new things for long term change rather than short, quick fixes. Great post Nicole!
Thank you Melissa! #4 is a tough one for me too…
Awesome stuff. Stress and our ability to respond to it has always been a major player in human existence, but only recently has it become detrimental due to most people’s inability to escape it. Life will always be stressful, we need to learn to adapt to it: your 4 tips are a perfect example of how we can learn to support our stress response and make active decisions to minimize it in our lives.
Great reminder of what not to do. 🙂 It was #4 that really hit for me. These are habits. You have a habit of not letting anyone help you. You have a habit of saying yes. You have a habit of complaining. All these habits can keep you stuck in a perpetual cycle. So then the question is, how do you break the habit? How do you become aware in the moment to wake up to what is happening and change it? Through this awareness do these habits change into new habits. — Great Post! Thank you for sharing.
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