10 Tips to Transform Stress into Success

Your “Anderson Study & Life Hacks” series

Stress, whether good or bad – to do with working toward our ‘A’ and scoring it or feeling completely overwhelmed by the studying it takes to get there, juggling family life or work schedules while going to school or studying at home – can take its toll. Left unchecked, stress can go from being a nuisance, to debilitating us, holding us back from the very goals and dreams we so deeply desire. And as there is absolutely no way, in our perpetually plugged-in, fast-paced world, to avoid it, we must learn to navigate it … dare we say, use it as fuel to propel us toward our success!

Possible? Yes, oh yes!

10 Tips to Transform Stress into Success

1.Understand it to Disarm It!

It is the unknown that tends to creep up and overwhelm us. If we just feel the anxiety rising, our breath quickening, the sweat breaking out all over, then we can become consumed by the emotions that follow. But understanding the role stress plays in heightening our senses to make us keenly aware, sharpen our reaction time, warn us, and make us ready to do what needs to be done, can give perspective in the moment. We can make stress our friend instead our enemy, and then consciously bring our mind into calm and the body will follow.

2.Techniques for Timely Transformation

To counter the body’s reactions that arise with stress, we can use the power of tried-and-true techniques to diffuse and return to calm:

• Deep Breaths – bring more oxygen to the brain so that we can think more clearly
• Remind Ourselves – that this “stress response evolved to help us succeed, and that the increased arousal symptoms of stress can aid our performance during times of stress. … In a tough situation, stress make you stronger”
• Meditate – “A scientifically proven technique which is found to counteract stress and has altered structural changes in the brain is meditation.” This can give us perspective and even causes physical changes in our grey matter in the areas that help us more effectively, and more peacefully, embrace life. Don’t know where to begin, no problem. There are many resources to get you started.

3.Embrace Our “No”

“Stress is just what happens when demand exceeds capacity.” Because this is the case, we need to know what our ‘capacity’ is. How much can we take on realistically and how can we manage the expectations of others? Being clear about our “No” is just as essential as being clear about our “Yes”. The moment you’re saying “Yes” to the right things, you’ll soon realize that you are more efficient and more capable, precisely because you are more at peace in the day-to-day tackling of what needs to be done.

4.Solution Focus vs. Problem Focus

Often stress is caused when we allow a problem or situation to plague our mind. As we sort through what to do, this can serve us. But there comes a time when we are simply playing the issue over and over in our minds and stirring up all the emotion that goes along with it. See the problem. Write it down. And then choose to focus on the solution. If there isn’t one, perhaps it is time to take whatever lesson you can from it, and then simply let … it … go.

5.Find the Gift

Stress often indicates change. Is there a gift in there somewhere for you? Do you need to embrace a new opportunity, learn something significant to improve or finally have a truthful conversation with someone that brings some healing to a situation? Wherever there is stress, there is a treasure to be found … a chance to choose to be better, stronger, more centred, clearer than we have been before.

6.Advanced Planning for Peace

We juggle many projects and taking the time to lay out all the details of what’s on our plate can alleviate stress considerably. Review all of you have to do, with work, online learning, family responsibilities, and then plan your schedule and calendar what needs to be done. This will vastly improve your efficiency and ensure that you aren’t left with impossible deadlines. We’ve created a blog for our Anderson students on Study Tips that may just help you too.

7.Leverage Your Stress

Any awesome goal you set will come with a certain amount of stress, often more rather than less if it’s a really great goal! And so, with a grand plan and a vision for your amazing life in mind, channel your stress into what you will receive once it’s achieved. Visualize the outcome, cut out a picture of yourself and cut out a graduation cap and paste it on, or Photoshop will do too. Put this picture where you can see it and whenever stress starts to mount, remind yourself “It’s worth it!” Use stress to your advantage – to achieve the dreams of which you are so deserving… with that hard work!

8.Hit the Gym or the Highway

One of the best ways to alleviate stress is to exercise, vigorously, or take a hike or drive. You know what ‘they’ say, “A change is often as good as a rest.” When all the other centring techniques of breathing and meditating aren’t getting you past the surge of stress, take a walk, lift some weights, do some jumping jacks, or take a long drive with a good cup of coffee. We need to find ways to release the anxiety and then we’re a little fresher when we dive back into what needs to be done.

9.Journal Your Woes and Yeas!

Sometimes, we just need to write down what’s disturbing our peace of mind, purge to get perspective. We need to be able to see the stress for what it is and then release it. Being able to vent our frustrations can be healing – better out than in. But we always want to remember not to leave the page feeling exhausted by what we’re feeling and experiencing; we want to find the good and focus on that. What can we do? How can we turn it around? What good will come into our life if we muscle through the difficult bits? And don’t forget to journal all the great choices you’re making, the little and large ‘wins’ along the way. We get more of what we focus on, so focus on the “Yeses” in your days!

10.Fuel Your Body and Mind for Less Stress, More Success

As we know, what we put in, we get out. During hectic times in our lives, we need to make sure we’re putting the right things in. We’re athletes of all sorts, whether we’re wading our way through exams and practicums, climbing the ladder in a company or training for a marathon, we need to be aware of what fuel we’re putting into our minds and our bodies. This will make all the difference for running efficiently and clearly toward our goals. Stress can mean poorer choices. Be aware! Eat clean and healthy and make treats a special part of rewarding yourself and relaxing. Watch what you’re watching and feed your mind with positive shows, media and memes when you do take a break. If we commit to putting in the good stuff and honouring our bodies and minds, then there’s no limit to the success we can achieve.

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Now that you have the tips to transform your stress into success, you’ve got what you need to take on an awesome new goal, maybe even a new career! To learn more about our 30+ leading-edge programs, contact one of our Admissions Advisors and book an express appointment today.

Quick Links to Fuel Your Success

We want to make sure you have what you need to succeed! Check out these reference links:
• Ten Study Tips to Achieve Academic Success! (andersoncollege.com)
• How to turn your stress into success (yourstory.com)
• Channel Your Stress and Anxiety Into Drive and Inspiration – CBS News
• How to Be Better at Stress – Well Guides – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
• How to Channel Your Stress to Help You Succeed: Heidi Hanna (Transcript) – The Singju Post
• 7 Proven Ways to Redirect Stress Into a Powerful Success Motivator (entrepreneur.com)
• Stress: The Silent Killer Of Dreams and A Scientifically Backed Way To Rewire Your Brain for Success (forbes.com)
• Five of the best meditation apps | Apps | The Guardian