Have you ever faced a situation which felt completely out of your control? Whether that’s waiting to hear back from a big job interview, facing a difficult situation at home or juggling countless deadliness at work- life can feel pretty overwhelming at times! But even in these stressful times, there are still plenty of things we can do to build resilience, relieve pressure and take control of our wellness.
Allow us to introduce you to the four As:
It’s important to remember, it’s not healthy to avoid a stressful situation that needs to be addressed but you may be surprised by the number of pressures and stressors in your life you can reduce and take control of.
Its ok to say no: Know your own limits, ensure that you are not taking too much on, it’s important to practice self-care.
Avoid people who cause you stress: Its ok to avoid the people who cause you unnecessary stress, you might want to take some time apart from that person or even end the relationship.
Control your environment: Taking control of your environment can help alleviate pressure, we live on a notified and anxious planet, ration social media and the news. If taking a trip to the local grocery store might cause you worry, try shopping online to create less stress and promote a greater sense of peace and control.
Sometimes you can’t avoid a stressful situation but you can alter it.
Speak your mind: Its ok to voice how you are feeling in a respectful manner, practise becoming more assertive to ensure your worries and concerns are heard. Try to tackle the problem early to avoid the situation from escalating.
Finding the middle ground: Be willing to compromise and also change some things about yourself in order to find a happy outcome for all parties.
All work and no play?: The Five Ways to Well-being provide five key steps that you can take as your mental ‘five-a-day’ to contribute to your overall well-being. Don’t worry, we know there are restrictions in place, that’s why we have created a toolkit with lots of creative ideas for each step, will you take them on?
If you can’t change the stressful situation you can learn to adapt. You can challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and gain perspective.
Reframe: viewing a stressful situation in the current situation positively might be tough, but it’s important to take time to pause and reflect. Try to challenge negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts.
Perspective: Take time to reflect on perspective V reality. Ask yourself; will it matter next week? A month? A year?
Self-Standard:
are you setting yourself unreasonable goals? Do others expect this from you?
Learn ways to be ok with not being perfect and being ‘good enough’. Creating a ‘good
enough’ mindset that isn’t filled with unrealistic expectations will help you
cultivate a sense of wellbeing.
Some situations maybe be unavoidable and out of our control such as Covid-19. In such cases it is important to remember we have to cope with stress by acceptance. It can be very difficult to do but it can present you with more time to focus your energy on taking care of you!
Keep talking: sharing your feelings and expressing your thoughts is more important than ever, talk to a colleague, a trusted friend, a councillor or your GP.
Stay positive: reflect on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours and challenge negative situations by practising the four A’s. Take time to reflect and gain perspective.
