I wholly accept stress in my life. My body is learning to use stress as a motivator.

I accept that stress in an inevitable part of my life and I let go of the idea that I can fight against it and make it disappear. Instead, I recognize it as a valuable asset in my life, one that my body is learning to use as a motivational tool.

I appreciate the way that stress makes me get up off my seat and take action. Stress alerts me when something needs to be addressed so I can stay on top of situations that I might otherwise be tempted to ignore or forget.

In healthy doses, stress sharpens my focus so I can concentrate and be more productive on the task at hand. It makes me more acutely aware of what is going on around me and equips me to absorb information and make good use of it.

I treat stress as an ally and work with it, rather than against it. However, I resist the impulse to ignore my stress until it has grown to the point that it has lost its beneficial nature and has begun to take a toll on my health and well-being.

By paying attention to my body’s signals, I can tell that stress is no longer being productive and that it has gone beyond the stage where it is encouraging me. When this happens, I view it as a sign to step back, relax, and regroup. Then, when I have done so, I can carry on, with stress in its rightful place as a healthy partner in my life.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1.Do I view stress as an enemy or an ally?
2.Do I pay attention and respond when stress signals that something is wrong?
3.Do I allow myself to regroup when stress ceases to work in my favor?

Because I am organized, I am able to minimize my daily stress.

I take the necessary time to be organized because I know that doing so minimizes my daily stress. While it is sometimes tempting to rush into a work week or a project, I recognize that my time is like money; I have to spend some to gain some.

I organize my time to facilitate my goals by pruning off activities that drain me of my time and energy. I recognize that, like everyone else, my time is not limitless. I choose to set aside specific times for those activities that are important to me and I let the rest go.

I set aside time at the beginning of each project to make sure I have a clear picture of where I am going and that I have the resources I need to get there. This way I don’t end up whittling it away on pointless and avoidable activities.

For example, I see no point in wasting time hunting for my keys each morning, so I set a basket by the door to drop them in each night.

Supplies are stocked and organized by my desk to prevent wasted time and distraction when I am in the middle of my work.

A weekly menu eliminates waste when I shop and minimizes my time in the kitchen.
I take a few minutes to do each of these things on a periodic basis so I can have more time to focus on what is truly important in my life.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1.What excuses do I give myself for not being organized?
2.What frequent time wasters can be minimized or eliminated?
3.What can I do, today, to begin the process of getting organized?

A little preparation takes me a long way in easing strain and stress.

Being prepared makes living my life easier. I am so glad that I have discovered ways to effectively manage my everyday life.

Choosing to proactively prepare for the day is such a simple way for me to remove stress from my life. Just a little preparation can make such a big difference in my attitudes and perspectives.

Every morning, I take a few moments to review my commitments for the day. I also jot down a list of things I need to accomplish so I can stay focused on my goals. Knowing my deadlines and prioritizing my tasks is an effective way to ease the strain in my life.

When I have an important deadline approaching, I enlist the help of others. I also make schedules and set aside time to work on the project. Making clear plans and feeling like I am in control is a great way to ease anxiety. Since I take actions to keep my projects on schedule, I am confident that I can reach my goals. Preparing for success ensures that I succeed.

The stress I once had in my life is gone because I have taken proactive steps toward organizing my life. Anxiety can be prevented. I am so relieved to have found systems that help me manage my life.

I am ready for any project and each task I approach seems more manageable. Preparation is a useful tool that I implement in my life. I am ready to succeed because I am prepared.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1.How do I prepare for the tasks and projects in my life?
2.How does preparation ease my stress and strain?
3.How could I take a more proactive approach to reach my goals?