SMART Coaching

The SMART Approach to Stress Management

Stress relief isn’t defined by relaxation techniques alone. Many factors, including environmental and internal elements, contribute to our level of stress, and each may need its own method of management. The SMART Approach addresses five key areas of focus that have a profound influence on our daily and long-term stress levels.

Self-care

Margin

Awareness

Relationships

True You

Self-care

As women, it’s in our very nature to take care of others before seeing to our own needs. However, we often end up neglecting our own self-care altogether, because we don’t want to take time away from our families. Yes, our families are important, but so are we.

Self-care is more than just taking time to relax. It’s about getting enough sleep, eating nutritiously and exercising, laughing, and forgiving yourself when things don’t go the way you want them to. Your emotions and thoughts can create stress and affect your physical health. But taking care of yourself physically can also have a positive impact on your emotional health. And when you take care of yourself, you can more easily take care of others.

Margin

Much of our daily stress comes from being over-extended, over-booked, over-worked, and over-drawn. There is a limit to your resources, and continually depleting them not only leaves you exhausted every day, but will leave you with nothing to draw on when life throws a nasty curve-ball your way. Stop living at your breaking point. Create a margin, a buffer zone between you and your break point. Leaving yourself some breathing room practically eliminates daily stress and certainly makes it easier to deal with the unexpected.

Awareness

Our lives are filled with decisions that have the potential to cause stress. Yet, we often make a decision out of habit, or even worse, based on what others want. Becoming aware that you have a choice and then consciously choosing the path that is right for you can significantly impact your well being. Stop living life on default mode and start choosing to live with more awareness.

Relationships

From family to friends to coworkers to acquaintances, our lives are filled with people. Some relationships feed our souls while others drain our energy. Who is in your inner circle? Are they supportive of you and your desire for a healthy lifestyle? Or are they uncomfortable, maybe threatened, by the changes you want to make in your life? It is important to look closely at who you interact with and whether they help you thrive or stunt your growth.

True You

Stress can come from not living authentically, not living true to yourself. But what does it mean to live authentically?  It’s identifying your personal beliefs and values and then choosing to live by them. Even more, it’s about discovering what you’re passionate about and including it in your life. This could be finding your true calling or fulfilling some long held dreams. Discovering the True You can bring tremendous inner peace and joy. What are you waiting for?

By focusing on these five key areas, the SMART Approach gives you the tools to better manage stress and bring balance and fulfillment to your life.

Check out how LifeSMART Coaching can help you!

Read more about coaching in the FAQ section or contact me to learn how we can work together to help you achieve better health through stress management.