Stress Test: Getting to the Root Cause of your Stress

Here's what you need to do. Schedule some time and lock yourself away for at least one hour. Somewhere quiet. Switch off the mobile phone, the television and devote this time to you. You don't need to sit cross-legged on the floor for this, but I want you to do some contemplation. Think about your everyday life. Run the video in your mind. Take yourself through a regular week. But pay attention to your feelings. Where does it grate? What negative feelings do you have about any part of your regular schedule? What are the feelings? Why do you feel that way? Perhaps a job that you loved 5 years ago is now just a 9-to-5 grind. Why? What happened? Write it down. All your thoughts. Try to identify where in your life you are stressed and why. Then I want you to keep a diary for the next week. If you think about this period of contemplation often, during the next week, I will guarantee you will find a lot more issues or problems. Write them in your diary. By the end of the week you should have a comprehensive list of your stressors or pressure points. You may also find a combination of circumstances pushing the boundaries on your natural coping skills. And don't forget that recent house move or job redundancy. Calculate your stress levels Here is a test to determine how stressed you are. In the past 12-24 months, which of the following major life events have taken place in your life?