Stress Relief Tips for Type A Personalities

Stress Relief Tips for Type A Personalities Stress Management Management Techniques Print Getting Stress Relief for Type A Personalities By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on December 12, 2019 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Lane Oatey / Blue Jean Images / Getty Images People with Type A personality traits can experience greater-than-average levels of stress. Being time-conscious, competitive, and impatient, as many Type A people are can create stress in relationships, jobs, and other areas of life.   Type A traits can also create obstacles to stress management. Some of the more effective stress management techniques can feel frustrating for someone who has a more intense personality. For example, the quiet stillness of meditation can be difficult and even frustrating to achieve for those who are impatient, competitive, and used to making every second count at work. However, certain techniques can work quite well for those with a Type A personality, and other techniques require just a few adjustments to work well for type a stress relief. While it might be nice to soften some of the sharper edges of the Type A personality, its not necessary to change who you are before you can start managing your stress. The following Type A stress relievers can work particularly well for those with Type A personalities and can be wonderfully effective stress relievers for others as well. Use Music Listening to music is a simple Type A stress relief trick that takes little effort. When you’re driving, put on some of your favorite music (instead of catching up on phone calls) and you can enjoy the ride (no more road rage) and arrive feeling relaxed. If you need to slow down, play slower-paced music; if you need to energize, play more upbeat tunes. Get Exercise Those experiencing Type A stress may find it difficult to slow down for stress reliefâ€"so why not speed up? Exercise carries many health and stress management benefits. It’s perfect for those with Type A traits because it offers a paradigm where the more you rush (on a treadmill, for example), the less stressed youll feel. Specific exercise regimens like martial arts, running, or even dancing can provide a great aerobic workout and a sense of accomplishment. Exercise classes can offer social connection as well as a little positive peer pressure to push you to stay on track. Try Expressive Writing If you have a Type A personality, you probably like to be more active than passive. An active way to examine and express your thoughts is to start a journaling practice or start expressive writing regularly. Writing about your feelingsâ€"especially if theyre intense and it’s done in a time-limited wayâ€"can help you to get them out of your head. Writing about your plans to fix a situation can also help you feel less stressed and more able to let go of worries.  Writing in a gratitude journal can help you to maintain a greater focus on the positive events that happen throughout your day. There are several ways to use writing for stress relief, and they can be helpful for relieving Type A stress. Take Time for Hobbies One issue that Type A people run into is the difficulty of balancing work with the rest of their life. It can be difficult scheduling in time to just relax, but scheduling enjoyable activities can be a way around the tendency to over-schedule to the point of being over-stressed and lacking in balance. Scheduling activities you find relaxing can, out of necessity, require letting some things go, so this can be another route toward forcing yourself to cut out things in your life that don’t serve you. If you tie your hobbies into a group structure, it will be more difficult to decide at the last minute that youre too busy to take the time for your hobbies. Start a knitting circle, take a painting class, or join a band. Make hobbies part of your plan. Stay Connected Being Type A can mean youre so busy with work that you dont have as much time to enjoy the people in your life. But being socially isolated can cause stress, and having a few supportive people in your life can sometimes work wonders Type A stress. Making it a point to stay connected with people dont have to take a lot of time, and having people there for you when you need it is well worth the time invested. For those with Type A traits, sometimes being connected means working on communication skills and remembering the value of relationships. It can also mean just taking the time to meet up with friends, or reminding yourself to take a few minutes to say hi to the people around you. This is a stress relief technique that may not feel like one, but its an area to focus on that can really help. Do Some Yoga If you really do like the idea of meditation, but just can’t bring yourself to sit quietly for that long without feeling stressed from all your thoughts and you need to stay active, try yoga. Yoga brings many great health benefits, and can incorporate some meditation features (as well as breathing exercises) but may provide enough activity and focus that it feels calming and quieting, but without the type of silence that feels deafening. Going to a yoga studio provides a group environment that may make it easier for you to stay focused and continue making the time in your schedule to attend regularly. Find More Stress Management Help Having a wide variety of stress management techniques available can help you to find more strategies that work well for you. There’s a wealth of information on this site, but it may feel overwhelming to even consider trying to read it all right now. You can connect with me on Facebook,  Twitter, and  Pinterest, or read more in my book,  8 Keys to Stress Management, for more ongoing support.