Stress is such a broad word, isn’t it? I always have a hard time understanding when I’m feeling it, how I’m feeling it, or, more importantly, why I’m feeling it.

So, what about how to deal with stress?

The other day, I was so overwhelmed that I cracked. This doesn’t happen with me… ever. It has never happened before. I had a crying fit (which my poor husband witnessed) right before a big client meeting. I was feeling like the pressure of the world was on me. Well, it wasn’t, it was just my mindset, and I had let myself become a victim. It all ended up going really well, and my doom and gloom attitude really got in the way of my confidence. Self doubt is a terrible feeling, and I am not a fun person to be around in those periods.

I have found out a few ways that I’ve pinpointed how I deal with it, which are quite unhealthy, but that have helped propel me to figuring out how to cope in a much healthier way. We’re talking beyond the “go have a bubblebath” advice. We’re talking clear cut, helpful tactics here.

Unfortunately, some stress is going to be inevitable, so finding methods of coping is a life skill we all can use.  We all have times that we’re facing challenge – taking on too much, things just not going your way, putting others ahead of our own needs. Getting through that for a set period of time is essential to how we come out the other side. I’ve found a few things really help me. Oh, and I wrote all about the tools and programs I use to keep my small business running smoothly over on Glitter Guide, which is also full of goodness.

Write it all down:

I keep a detailed hand written list, categorized by client in priority order to keep me on track for the day to day. On very busy weeks, I will get up at the crack of dawn and attack my list, before the distractions of emails start to set in. I combine this with collaborative, online tools such as Basecamp. If I’m feeling out of sorts, I grab my notepad and jot it all down, no matter the time of day. Try it – instant calm.

Simplify:

If the thing that’s causing you stress is removable, do it. Simplify your life. Whether that be biting off more than you can chew (too many projects, too many YES moments), people who are energy draining (friends, clients or acquaintances). Remove yourself from the situation. Sometimes, that means saying no, making some shifts with those in your circle. Assess it, and then act. You’ll quite often notice what makes the difference, and thus, what was causing you discomfort, making it easier to sort out next time.

Stay organized:

My calendar is a holy grail tool I use and have everyone on my team included in it. Every appointment, meeting, or important date I have gets catalogued there, and it helps feel at ease knowing I can accomplish what I see. If I have too many meetings booking up in any given week, I can, at a glance, decipher the gaps that I can use for computer work and projects. Booking one or two days a week full of meetings and events leave other full days to sink into my office work. I love the feeling of having a full day to work, with nothing that takes attention away from that.

Delegate:

Easy to say for a control freak type-A like myself. I definitely don’t delegate as much as I would like to, because it’s difficult to have that full trust in someone. That said, I’ve gotten good at noting what my staff’s strengths are and assigning tasks to them that removes them from my plate. Real stress relief is not having to worry about the end result, so it’s worthwhile to form a team who can grow with you and produce the results you need to delegate even further.

Compartmentalize:

When you are in one place, doing one thing, you can only be where you are, doing what you’re doing. When you are working, keep your mind there. When you’re being a parent, don’t worry about work, because there is no use. Doing so will only make you feel overwhelmed about what you aren’t doing, and what good is that? Any project you’re working on, give it your focus, and when you move to the next project, stay in your lane. Make sense? This leads into the next point…

Stay present:

It’s very important to prioritize work that is on deadline. Moving through to do’s based on what comes next, but really segmenting this without worrying about what comes next, will be the only way to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I have a list of things that need to be accomplished for the next day, and don’t let my mind drift to the rest of what I need to accomplish in the coming days. If I don’t do this, I become frazzled, and feeling as if I’m drowning in work, disappointing people etc. None of these feelings are true, but these frantic thoughts will enter if you let them.

Give yourself permission to relax:

I’m always working. My whole life is “work”, moments in my day to day are sources of content; from how I can use content for myself, or clients, to off-hours client communications, to events etc. It’s absolutely essential that I leave a day or two a week to myself. I try to make my weekends a sacred place, and while that doesn’t always happen, it’s always my goal. I also need to get items ticked off my to-dos before I can really settle in for the night (and basically watch NYC Housewives guilt-free), so that peace of mind is so important to relaxation time.

What about you? How to you cope with stress, and have you been able to pinpoint what may be causing it?