Stress: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Stress. It hits us from all sides. At home, at work, and everywhere in between. For me, it's fighting bumper to bumper traffic at 5:01 after a long day pitching. For others, it's presenting an RFP to a potential new client.

Is there a way to prevent stress, or do we just need to deal with it as it comes? Is stress bad for us? Or does it make a better PR people? More alert, more aware, keeping us on our toes - and finding creative solutions to the problems we encounter. The truth is, I don't have the answer. But I've been thinking a lot lately about handling stress, and the consequences of not dealing with it.

Plan hour by hour. Are you a big planner? Do you feel more in control when there is a plan and a schedule? Then create one for yourself every day. Plan out your media releases, social media updates, and your smaller tasks - you'll feel more on a top of things, and less stressed.

Stop fidgeting. I crack my knuckles constantly when I'm stressed. To the point that my hands ache for days following. Are you the same? Focus your nervous energy, and find a productive way to exert that energy. See my next point.

Exercise, Sleep, and Repeat. Get each of these things to the best of your ability every day. Do you toss and turn at night? Work out for an hour the next day. Run, lift weights, elipticalize - whatever it takes. Exersize will raise your mood naturally and help you get some extra Zzzz later.

Battle Traffic. Ugh. I hate traffic. Do you battle traffic every day? Me too. Morning and night. Ugh. Find something that helps distracts you while you drive, or....sit bumper to bumper, you know. Audio books are what do it for me. Maybe for you it's techno beats or Bon Iver.

How do you beat stress?