Manage Moderate Stress with a Stress Care P.L.A.N.
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Manage Moderate Stress with a Stress Care P.L.A.N.

10 Mins read
cigna-teamAuthorCigna Team

Unmanaged stress doesn’t just affect you emotionally, it affects you physically too. That’s why we’ve partnered with doctors, educators, engineers and more to help you see stress differently and take control with a customized Stress Care P.L.A.N. (Period, Location, Activity, Name).

If you haven’t discovered your stress level yet, take our Stress Test and find out which “Stress Profile” represents you best (low, moderate or high).

If your Stress Profile is Moderate Stress, follow our simple guide below to better understand how to optimize your stress levels.

As a person experiencing moderate stress, you’re likely to feel under pressure. This might be because of high expectations from other people or because you have too many things to do every day, and you may feel stuck or like you don’t know how to make things better.

The good news is that moderate stress can usually be addressed quite easily through small changes.

First, you need to break it down and understand how stress is affecting you. For example, many people who feel moderately stressed experience the following causes of stress:

Emotions

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Mind

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Body

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  • Over-thinking or getting stuck in negative thinking patterns
  • Not setting boundaries (not saying “no” when you’re too busy)
  • Finding it difficult to prioritize things’
  • Not taking the time to separate the aspects of life that are causing stress
  • Not walking away from avoidable stress
  • Not enough regular light exercise
  • Too much time spent indoors

Now it’s time to take 15 minutes—away from distractions—to create your own Stress Care P.L.A.N. in just three easy steps.

  1. First, think about what causes you stress—big or small.
  2. Take some paper, or a device, and spell out “P”, “L”, “A”, “N” down one side.
  3. Work through the letters below and set at least one personal goal. Easy!

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Select a Period of time every day to switch off or to be productive.

Suggestions:

  • Spend your travel time in the morning to work as time for reflection
  • Wake up 10 minutes earlier to create a prioritized and realistic to-do list

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Head to a Location that encourages you to take a break.

Suggestions:

  • Go to the local park for a stroll
  • Sit by the river or lake nearby

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Choose an Activity that both fits your budget and addresses some of your daily stress.

Suggestions:

  • Read a good book, or even join a book club
  • Try cooking new recipes
  • Take a dance class or learn a new sport

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Name some people you can talk to and who would give you a helping hand.

Suggestions:

  • Speak to someone who can have an impact on your workload about setting boundaries and prioritizing
  • Reach out to an old friend or family member you haven’t spoken to for a while

Using this new P.L.A.N., put your activities in the diary, book classes, bring a friend, get a babysitter and make it as easy for yourself as possible.

Because the causes and effects of stress differ from person to person, everyone experiences stress differently. Learn more about how we can visualize stress.

  • When Stress is Making You Ill
  • Relax and breathe!
  • How to: Stress Relieving Exercises for All Ages
  • Yoga Poses for Better Sleep

*Please note, this is not clinical or diagnostic advice. Chronic stress can be a serious issue. Please seek medical support if you are concerned for your health.

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