In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by stress. Whether it’s work, personal life, or the constant barrage of news, stress levels can rise quickly and unexpectedly. Recently, I did a live session about the concept of the "Stress Elevator" and how understanding our different levels of stress can help us better control what’s within our power and make necessary adjustments.
What is the Stress Elevator?
The Stress Elevator is a metaphor for how stress levels can rise and fall, much like an elevator moves between floors. At the lower levels, we may experience mild stress that is manageable and can even be motivating. As we move up the elevator, stress can become more intense, leading to anxiety, overwhelm, and burnout.
Recognising Your Stress Levels
Understanding and recognising your stress levels is the first step to managing them effectively. Here are some indicators of different levels of stress:
-Ground Floor (Low Stress): Feeling calm and in control, stress is manageable. Here you can laugh and joke with your kids your partner. Even the grumpy guy in traffic doesn't bother you!
Middle Floors (Moderate Stress): Feeling pressured but still able to cope, slight physical symptoms like headaches or muscle tension. These are the danger zones, they creep up on you some days without realising.
-Top Floors (High Stress): Feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, significant physical symptoms like insomnia or digestive issues. Snap at any opportunity, you've heard of he straw that broke the camels back? Yup that's here!
Managing Stress at Each Level
Knowing where you are on the Stress Elevator allows you to take specific actions to manage and reduce your stress:
Ground Floor: Maintain healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep. Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to keep stress levels low.
Middle Floors: Identify the sources of stress and address them proactively. Break tasks into smaller steps, prioritise effectively, and seek support from friends or colleagues. If you can feel yourself getting worked up, take 2 minutes. Set a timer on your phone. And breath in for 4 and put for 4. I promise it works!
Top Floors: Take immediate action to reduce stress. This could include taking a break, engaging in deep breathing exercises, or seeking professional help if needed. You need to talk to someone, this is where we tend to take things out on the people we love the most. Shouting isn't uncommon because we're so so overwhelmed the emotion comes out, crying, shouting and exhaustion.
Taking Control of What’s in Your Control
One of the key points I discussed in my live session is the importance of focusing on what you can control. Often, we stress about things that are beyond our control, which only exacerbates our stress levels. By concentrating on actionable steps and making small adjustments, we can significantly improve our stress management. I've had to remove some news channels from my socials, walk twice a day and ice bath!
If you're struggling with stress right now, know that you're not alone. Understanding your stress levels and taking control of what’s within your power can make a big difference. I still have a September coaching spot available for the evenings, where we can dive deeper into stress management techniques and help you regain control of your well-being.
DM me "STRESS" if you’re feeling overwhelmed and let’s work through it together.
Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it doesn’t have to control you. By understanding the Stress Elevator and recognizing your stress levels, you can take proactive steps to manage it effectively. Remember, small adjustments can lead to significant improvements in your mental health and overall well-being.
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