Guest Article on LakeOconeeHealth.com
The follow article was published on Lakeoconeehealth.com
Chose and Move. Creatively Manage Your Stress
Anybody stressed out these days?!
One doesn’t have to give much effort to find something to fret about. The world has never been more connected, and our media devices are ever-presently near to remind us what should cause us concern.
This year, I published Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician. After the initial slaps on the back and congratulatory “way to go’s” for my accomplishment, I realized I had a massive amount of work ahead of me if I wanted the book to succeed. A significant component of a book marketing campaign is social media. Pre-book release, I was an “every-now-and-then” poster. I would announce my shows or post a pic of my kids after a soccer game. Post book release, I was compelled to post all the time. In the early stages of my marketing efforts, I found my thoughts consumed with “what should I post next and in what format?” Social media is insatiable and managing my campaign became a full-time responsibility, often leading to the neglect of other obligations and, yes, stress.
I share my social media marketing experience to point out that stress can come from almost anywhere. Anything or anyone we assign meaning to in our lives has the potential to bring us joy and fulfillment. Yet, these meaningful endeavors or relationships will, at some point, be challenging and stressful. Count on it!
In my book, I offer three Hooks that help me manage my stress. Maybe you will find them useful also.
Hook #5: In pressure performance, your body will respond like a machine. Learn its buttons and levers.
As a professional performer, my job is to give my best performance no matter the circumstance. My training requires physical practice to improve my skill and mental practice to improve my ability to focus. Simply stated, my body and mind will respond during a performance in the way I’ve programmed it to respond—similar to how one would program a machine.
I’ve learned that the same training can be applied to my daily life. Knowing that I can control my attention and focus (choosing to think about something else) and making time to exercise and rest, I limit the effects of stress on my mind and body. I take care of my machine.
Hook #40 - Find Something frivolous and enjoyable that requires your complete attention and focus.
I play video games. Specifically, I play Madden Football. I’m highly competitive, and I can’t stand to lose! The game is challenging and requires my full attention—attention I gladly give.
Stepping away from your daily concerns can bring about a fresh perspective. Also, rewarding yourself with something fun and frivolous creates balance in your life. Balance is good. Reward is good.
Find something you love to do that will demand your attention and give you respite from the daily grind. You will reduce stress, have a good time, and be more effective when you get back to work.
Hook # 77 - Choose an environment that inspires. Read, listen, and watch for what moves you.
Professionally, I am a writer, songwriter, musician, entertainer, and business owner. At any given moment, I have the opportunity to choose to create something or make something better for my business. I find that even forced inspiration can move me from a state of stress and worry to a place of hope and control. My stress wonders, “What if!” While my creative inspiration wonders, “What can be?”
As I write these words now, I’m “stressed out” over some professional concerns. Yet, as I focus on this message and my writing, I find that the concerning issue fades, and the stress diminishes. I’m aware the problem hasn’t gone away. I’ve just allowed myself some worry-free moments while the matter unfolds. (Everything comes to a resolution in the end, and usually, we all move on just fine.)
We are influenced by what we see, hear, and read. When feeling stressed, chose an environment that inspires and then create something, make something better, or get something done.
At this moment, I’m inspired to write “Choose and Move.” When stressed, choose where to give your attention and then get moving.
Let’s all lighten our load, and have a great day!
Chose and Move. Creatively Manage Your Stress
Anybody stressed out these days?!
One doesn’t have to give much effort to find something to fret about. The world has never been more connected, and our media devices are ever-presently near to remind us of what we should be concerned about.
This year, I published a book called Hooks: Lessons on Performance, Business, and Life from a Working Musician. After the initial slaps on the back and congratulatory well wishes for my accomplishment, I realized I had a massive amount of work ahead of me if I wanted the book to succeed. A major component of a book marketing campaign is social media. Pre-book release, I was a “every now and then” poster. I would announce my shows or post a pic of my kids after a soccer game. Post book release, I was compelled to post all the time. In the early stages of my marketing efforts, I found that my thoughts were consumed with “what should I post next and in what format?” Social media is insatiable and managing my campaign became a full-time responsibility, often leading to the neglect of other obligations and yes, stressful.
I share my social media marketing experience to point out that stress can really come from almost anywhere. Anything or anyone we assign meaning to in our lives has the potential to bring us joy and fulfillment. Yet, these meaningful endeavors or relationships will at some point be challenging and stressful. Count on it!
In my book, I offer three Hooks that help me manage my stress. Maybe you will find them useful also.
Hook #5: In pressure performance, your body will respond like a machine. Learn its buttons and levers.
As a professional performer, my job is to know how to give my best performance no matter the circumstance. My training and practice requires not only physical practice to improve my skill, but also mental practice to improve my ability to focus. Simply stated, my body and mind will respond during a performance in the way I’ve programmed it to respond—similar to the way one would program a machine.
I’ve learned that the same training can be applied to my daily life. Knowing that I can control my attention and focus (choosing to think about something else) and making time to exercise and rest, I limit the effects of stress on my mind and body. I take care of my machine.
Hook #40 - Find Something frivolous and enjoyable that requires your complete attention and focus.
I play video games. Specifically, I play Madden Football. I’m extremely competitive and I can’t stand to lose! The game is challenging and requires my full attention—attention I gladly give.
Stepping away from your daily concerns can bring about a fresh perspective. Also, rewarding yourself with something fun and frivolous creates balance in your life. Balance is good. Reward is good.
Find something you love to do that will demand your attention and give you respite form the daily grind. You will reduce stress, have a good time, and be more effective when you get back to work.
Hook # 77 - Choose an environment that inspires. Read, listen, and watch for what moves you.
Professionally, I am a writer, songwriter, musician, entertainer, and business owner. At any given moment, I have the opportunity to choose to create something or make something better in my business. I find that even forced inspiration can move me from a state of stress and worry to a place of hope and control. My stress wonders, “What if!” While my creative inspiration wonders, “What can be?”
As I write these words now, I’m “stressed out” over some professional concerns. Yet, as I focus on this message and my writing, I find that the concerning issue fades and the resulting stress diminishes. I’m aware that it hasn’t gone away. I’ve just allowed myself some worry-free moments while the issue unfolds. (Everything comes to a resolution in the end and usually we all move on just fine.)
We are influenced by what we see, hear, and read. When felling stressed, chose and environment that inspires and then create something, make something better, or get something done.
At this moment, I’m inspired to write, “Choose and Move.” When stressed, choose where to give your attention and then get moving.
Let’s all lighten our load and have a great day!
