Stress Busting Tips from Jo Cameron

Banish Stress

When my health started to suffer I knew things had to change. So here are my self grown stress busting tips, I am sure that you will gain something from them.

Replace the word ‘stress’ with ‘strain’, ‘tested’ or ‘challenged’ – the inventor of stress originally called it strain!! When you stop using the word it can disappear instantly. Using different words really can make you feel differently about situations.

Learn how to power breathe – I used this technique before each boardroom in The Apprentice to slow everything down. Breathe in for five, hold for 20 and breathe out for 10. It will take some practise but it does work

Start using affirmations – when things get a little rapid, repeat twenty times “I am calm” and you will feel more under control. Affirmations are a regular part of my life and I have introduced them to loads of people who are using them successfully – including my mum!!

Walk slower – when we walk slower it makes it more difficult to be stressed as it slows everything down. When I feel like things are starting to speed up, one of the first things I change is the pace of my walk.

Talk slower – there really is no rush, slow down, be more pointed in your conversations. You deserve the air time so take it slower.

Stop using the word manic – if you keep telling yourself, today was manic it will be. Use “busy but under control” it’s much more empowering

Stop aiming for perfection – there is no such thing as perfect and it will simply put you under too much pressure

Get up fifteen minutes earlier – the early morning is very peaceful and it allows you fifteen minutes planning the day. It starts your day off in control. And you are not really going to miss fifteen minutes sleep!!

Ask yourself “what is the most important thing to do at this time” – when you start to feel overwhelmed simply ask yourself this question and it will allow you to prioritise

Swap “there are not enough hours in the day” with “I have enough time” – it is very rarely that we do actually run out of time, simply by adopting a different language it feels different – I use this one frequently when I have a lot of things going on and start to feel under pressure

Concentrate on one phone call at a time – if you are on the landline and your mobile rings leave it until you have finished as you are doing a disservice to both parties. If you can, only answer the phone when it is convenient for you

Stress is really bad for our health so make it a priority to nip it in the bud.