Like with many things we do in life, we develop a worthy goal. We go a step farther by thinking about what should come next. Planning is good. Execution is better. What will you do to reach your goal? Your stress management goal will do nothing to lower your stress levels until you outline a clear set of steps to follow. Now that you have a SMART goal to lower your stress levels, you need an action plan to guide you to that goal. An action plan is a series of sequential steps that move you from your starting point to your destination. Over the past several weeks, I shared a strategic process to help you develop your goal statement. It is now time to develop a plan of action that will help you avoid pitfall so that you will reach your goal faster.
In this blog post, I will share 3 Reliable Ways to Supercharge Your Stress Management Plan. You may also watch me present this information on the M.L, Bailey Consultants YouTube Channel. Simply follow the link to 3 Reliable Ways to Supercharge Your Stress Management Plan. Now, let’s get to our topic.
Now that you have a SMART goal to lower your stress levels, you need an action plan to guide you to that goal. An action plan is a series of sequential steps that move you from your starting point to your destination. We often fail to reach goals because we have not taken the time to map out a strategy. The action plan is your strategy. It outlines the steps you will take as you move towards your desired outcome.
Create a Recipe!
Think of your action plan as if it were a recipe. A recipe gives you a set of steps that guide you to bake or cook a delicious culinary item. If you miss a step or fail to follow the directions as written, your product may turn out to taste and look like slop.
Your recipe for stress management should include several general steps. The first is to get advice from someone who is well versed in stress management. Meet with a stress management consultant or coach to discuss your needs. I am a Stress Management Consultant in addition to being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I work with women who experience anxiety, depression, and high levels of stress. My goal, as a Stress Management Consultant, is to help you to lower your stress levels to manageable levels.
Next, you should take inventory of the resources you have available to help you. A Stress Management Consultant can help you to do this as well. Resources can include people, places, and things. It may also include attitude and commitment. Your consultant can help you identify the best resources to use that fit into your life and lifestyle.
Finally, make a list of the areas of focus. These are the areas that you want to address as a part of your stress management plan. Goal writing lingo refers to these areas as objectives. Others consider them mini goals. A mini goal from a recipe is to mix the dry ingredients together. Another mini goal is to blend the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Choose One Area of Focus!
You are consulting with your Stress Management Professional. Your areas of focus are written. Remember, your areas of focus are mini goals. Choose one mini goal to work on. Just one! I have found that if we try to work on all our mini goals at one time, it increases stress and causes hardship. Choose one to focus your attention and energy.
Work with your Stress Management consultant to write action steps addressing your mini goal.
Let’s look at this step as if we were baking a cake. An example of a mini goal in a recipe follows. “Mix all of the dry ingredients together.” Simple, right? You need to carry out several other action steps to accomplish this one step. Here what it will look like. “Get your mixing bowl from the cabinet.” “Walk to the drawer to gather your spoons, measuring cups and measuring spoons.” “Go to the pantry to get the flour, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.” You get the idea. Your stress management consultant will help you determine action steps that fit you and your lifestyle.
Next you will practice these action steps by incorporating them into your day. The goal is to make the action steps as natural as possible. You want to make them a habit so that they kick in automatically. The overarching goal of a stress management plan is for you to recognize and address stress before it reaches an overwhelming level.
Review, Revisit and Revise!
Finally, review every action you take. Ask yourself the following questions. Did this work for me? Was it easy to do? What did I get out of it? Should I do it again? When? How? Then discuss the outcomes with your stress management consultant. She will encourage you to continue, help you revise your plan and hold you accountable so that you reach your goal faster than you could imagine.
M.L. Bailey Consultants helps women who work in service industry professions live healthy lives through strategic stress management. We encourage you to TAKE THE QUIZ – Are you Blessed, Stressed or Burned Out? to get resources and support that fit your specific stress management needs.
Also learn more about us by visiting Get to know M.L. Bailey Consultants .
Finally, we offer relaxation “on the fly” through the volley app. We look forward to seeing you soon. Consult with Me on Volley