Ways to manage stress: How to manage stress by prioritizing!

As you and I both know, there are many ways to manage stress out there. You may have already explored some of my ways to manage stress on this website. Well, if you have, then this one will be a piece of cake to include in your lifestyle.

This method ties in with another tip I wrote about: Planning out your daily events. Well, if you have not already read that, I suggest you do so, because it will make this method seem a lot easier. Or you can read this now, and read that after, to make the tip of "planning out your events" seem easier. Whatever you like.

But that's beside the point. I'm here to talk about prioritizing. The first few days of prioritizing in your life may seem a little weird; you won't be doing the things you usually do at the usual time. But hey, it works! So let's get down to it.

Behold one of the most straightforward and simple ways to manage stress:

Learn How to Manage Stress by Prioritizing

You will learn how to manage stress by prioritizing! That's right. You see, we all do things in our lives. You do things, I do things, we all do things. But is everything we do necessary? Most likely not. And if you're stressed out, definitely not.

What we must learn to do is first complete the tasks that are important and mandatory, and then do the optional things that don't really need to be done. You see, by doing this, you are guaranteed to not feel overwhelmed, or stressed because you have "so many things left to do".

But how can you tell whether a task is important or not?

Importance is Key but How Do You Find It?

Before I actually tell you how to distinguish between "important and not important", maybe this example will help you understand better.

Let's says your boss suddenly asks you to complete two extra papers, on a random, fine day because your colleague is sick. But all week before you were planning to attend a charity campaign that you were really looking forward to go to. And of course, the campaign ends up on the same night that your boss asks you to complete the papers. What do you do? What would you do?

If you skip the campaign, you wouldn't really be stressed out because it was your choice to attend. However, if you didn't do what your boss asked, you would feel stressed. Why? Because it was expected of you, and that's where all the pressure lies.

Do I even need to tell you how to distinguish between "important and not important", now? Just for good measure.

Simple Rule

If something is expected to be completed, and failing to do so creates consequences, then it is important. The consequence doesn't have to be from your boss. A consequence can even be something that another person has to face because of your actions.

Anything that doesn't fall under that is simply an optional task, which is not important.

Remember how I said that prioritizing is one of the most simple and straightforward ways to manage stress? Simple to understand? Yes. Simple to do? For some, no.

Well, here is how you can prioritize easily.

Prioritizing Shouldn't Be a Problem

You see, out of the many ways to manage stress, prioritizing takes some will power and commitment. Not everyone can leave all their "optional" tasks for last. But if you are able to, it will make your life a whole lot easier. And of course this means you'll also relieve your stress!

Start off at a slow pace. First, make it a commitment to include just one important task at the beginning of your schedule. This way, you won't feel too overwhelmed. Then, slowly, complete two important tasks before you start doing anything else. Then keep increasing the number. Wait!

Experiment to see if you are able to include all your important tasks in the day. If so, then you don't have to to all the tasks back-to-back. Feel completely free to occasionally do something else (optional task. i.e. hobby, TV, etc.) in between. But make sure all the mandatory tasks are done!

Then, about a week of doing this, you will start to feel less stress. And slowly but surely, you'll be stress free! Never take the end goal out of your sight.

But the benefits don't stop there! Think about it, you're getting things done like never before!

What Do I Think About This Method?

I've tried many ways to manage stress, but prioritizing is amongst the top for me! Why? It just makes so much sense! If I complete things that need to be completed, it takes away all the stress I could possibly have faced if I had not completed it. So if something is as clear as that, I'm definitely trying it!

And it has worked, so all you have to do is start. But that's not all. Out of the many ways to manage stress, this is also a method which is a little tricky to start, but once started, very easy to make it a habit! Basically once you start, the benefits will definitely make you stick to it!

Remember, there are many more ways to manage stress on this website, so feel free to explore, learn and be stress free forever!

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