Why You Need to Monitor Your Stress Every Day

Does negative stress sometime feel like it comes on suddenly, without warning?  If so, it's likely that it has actually been slowly growing but you haven't been aware of it until it’s almost too late. That’s why it’s so important to realize when stress starts creeping up.

Keep a check on your stress levels by keeping a record. Rate your stress levels on a scale of 1-10 (1 being not stressed at all, 10 being stressed to the point of being dysfunctional ,or severely limited in terms of your activities). Jot down in a bulleted form your emotions, behaviors, etc., and your stress rank.

This doesn’t need to be a time intensive activity. Spend just a few minutes  each day writing on a small notepad you keep next to your bed, at your desk, etc.
 
After a few weeks, look back and try to identify patterns in your stress (computer crashes, particular corporate events, interactions with certain individuals). Look for ways to reduce stress by eliminating these stressors or triggers, and if that’s not possible, look for opportunities to build in stress-releasers (exercise, baths, sleep-ins, etc.)

The point is to focus on your emotions and yourself for a few minutes each day. Because this exercise is self-reflective in nature and helps you feel grounded, it is a powerful stress-fighting tool itself.

Once you’ve done this for a few months, it can become a quick mental exercise, and you can forego the pen and paper altogether. Like a vital stats check on your mental health, you can monitor your stress levels automatically and determine when you need a dose of a stress-relieving activity.

-Simma Lieberman, "The Inclusionist"
Career Coach
www.simmalieberman.com