Discuss the process of keeping a stress log. How can it help you respond to your stressors?

What will be an ideal response?

Keep a stress log and record your stress intensity levels three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) for several weeks. Identify your primary stressors. Record any physiological, emotional, mental, or behavioral reactions you may experience to these stressors. For example, you may note in the morning that your stress level is an 8 on a 10 point scale because you will be giving a speech in the afternoon. You notice that you have a queasy stomach and a tense neck, you're feeling anxious, worried, and are fidgeting.

Once you identify how you respond to your stressors, use the information to cue you when to employ specific stress management strategies. For example, you could implement a plan where when your stress level reaches a 5, you will do a minimum of two minutes of abdominal breathing. Alternatively, when you notice a particular physiological signal such as a tense neck, it's time to do a five minute brief relaxation exercise.