The Second A of Stress Management- ALTER

Alter the Stressor
·      Express your feelings instead of bottling them up
o   Holding on to and stewing over negative feelings is a bad idea and can lead to unnecessary stress.  Talking to the person that upset you is a way to show up for yourself and even if the other person did not hear your frustrations, you are worth standing up for.
·      Be willing to compromise
o   Sometimes we don’t get exactly what we want, and coexisting with other sometimes means we don’t get our way.  It will lead to longer and happier and more harmonious relationships.
·      Be more assertive
o   Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean.  Be very clear about what it is that you want to say. If you are gearing up for a difficult conversation then have one point that you want the other person to hear. Just one point. That way when the other person tries to deflect or change the subject you can bring them back to the point you are wanting them to hear.
·      Manage your time better
o   Stop trying to fit too much into your day. Be realistic with your time management.  Showing up for things on time will feel better and be less stressful than constantly fighting the clock. Have no more than 4 things on your to do list for any given day.