{"id":11813,"date":"2024-10-31T15:51:55","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T19:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/?p=11813"},"modified":"2025-02-07T10:13:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T15:13:44","slug":"how-coaching-reduces-stress-insights-from-the-stress-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/blog\/how-coaching-reduces-stress-insights-from-the-stress-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"How Coaching Reduces Stress | Insights from \u201cThe Stress Coach\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Look out! There\u2019s a tiger in your inbox!<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More accurately? It\u2019s an email from your boss about an upcoming meeting you forgot to prepare for. But your body doesn\u2019t know the difference.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s a jungle beast, a difficult coworker, a career change, or next week\u2019s dentist appointment looming as the cause, the effect is the same:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s our body\u2019s response to any threat or demand.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When we\u2019re feeling overwhelmed with work challenges, personal challenges, or a longing for growth and pursuing big goals, it can be daunting and overwhelming to see a way through. After all, everyday stressors like unruly coworkers or traffic jams aren\u2019t going to magically disappear once you begin the work to temper the stress creeping into your sphere.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that ways to cope are abundant. And a solution to help you walk through stressful seasons may be closer than you think.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Help Is on the Way<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to the\u00a0<\/span>American Psychological Association\u2019s 2023 Stress in America<\/span><\/i><\/a>,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0stress and its effects on the collective mental and physical health as a country is on the rise. And nearly half of Americans are going through their struggles alone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly 50% of the people surveyed said they\u2019d love to have someone help them reduce their stress. And a coach is a natural person who can do just that.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s in a Name?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

I earned the nickname \u201cthe Stress Coach\u201d in my early professional career as a health educator specializing in stress reduction at Columbia University.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But my relationship with stress (yes, we\u2019ve had our ups and downs), began when I was 10 after I was diagnosed with what my doctors believe to be the \u201clargest brain tumor on record.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The effect of the brain tumor left me nearly blind for three years. Throughout the rest of my childhood, I underwent brain surgeries and struggled through rehab to regain my vision \u2014 as you can imagine, it was a stressful way to grow up.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t realize that the effects of growing up with so much stress would compound into adulthood. In college, I\u2019d frequent the student health service, complaining about various pains and digestive issues.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My doctor prescribed a stress reduction course, a rarity in the 1980s. Even though I was a little embarrassed to do so, I took his advice and enrolled in this class.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t have known that decision would one day become the catalyst to my entire career.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, I have the honor of helping thousands of people around the world cope with stress. And the first step is helping others manage their stress by giving them a better picture of what stress is\u2026and\u00a0<\/span>isn\u2019t.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And assembling people in their corner to help.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What We Get Wrong About What\u2019s Stressing<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Us Out<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

To understand how to cope with stress \u2014 and how a coach can help their clients manage stress \u2014 we first need to set the record straight about its misconceptions in our lives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress is Normal \u2014 Not a Way of Life<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

While stress is certainly normal<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>it\u2019s not healthy to be stressed all the time. Those who feel on edge, feel overwhelmed, or have trouble sleeping are living a life that isn\u2019t sustainable and hinders their ability to operate in the here and now.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sleeping well, regular physical activity, breathing exercises, and working with a coach can help manage the physical effects that stressors place on our lives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We Shouldn\u2019t Get Rid of All the Stress<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Stress can certainly have a negative impact on our physical health, mental wellness, and interpersonal relationships, but not all stress is created equally.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, many of my clients are surprised to learn that some stress is good. It\u2019s an inevitable part of life. It\u2019s a vital part of life. It can help us become more resilient and grow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even good things, like changing a career, writing a book, and running a marathon can manifest as stress in our lives and put a demand on the body.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where coaching fits in.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Fringe Benefit\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve found through years of coaching others that no matter what type of professional or personal goal you\u2019re trying to attain, you will receive some stress reduction techniques along the way. This results from the support and understanding that comes from a coach working with clients one-on-one.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of us think we can handle things on our own without consulting others and without help. We\u2019re told, even as children, that we should be individuals. We should be strong and handle things on our own.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But the fact is, I like to say that coaching is as vital to an individual as a pit crew in a race. Your car needs maintenance before it can burn rubber on the track \u2014 and you can\u2019t go out there in your own metaphorical race without that support.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>How Coaching Helps With Stress Management<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

While a coach certainly can\u2019t eliminate all the challenges in someone\u2019s life, they can help them implement simple changes to navigate through those challenges more effectively.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\nCoaching Gives Perspective<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Coaches are trained to ask probing questions that expand thinking to help change and shape goals. With that perspective shift, they help you break goals into more manageable tasks, making them easier to tackle without feeling overwhelmed.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Coaching Gives Accountability<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s simple. We perform differently when we have an audience. Similarly, we take our goals more seriously when we report on progress with a coach. This can create a good pressure and<\/span>\u00a0motivator to work on the sub-goals in order to reach the bigger ones.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Coaching Trains You to Chill<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many coaches are ready to teach you calming and focus techniques, like\u00a0<\/span>Quick Calm<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Rehearsal Imagery<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2014 methods I train other coaches, health care providers, and educators to use with those they support. These techniques help you quickly manage stress and are practical tools for everyday situations, keeping you on track and ensuring you cross the finish line.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To top things off, you have a person who knows how your mind works and how you\u2019re motivated to help you along the way \u2014 and who wouldn\u2019t want that?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All in all, it\u2019s critical to remember something about stress in our lives: you don\u2019t have to go it alone.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ready to take charge of your stress management while pursuing your professional and personal goals? Find your coach using<\/span>\u00a0the ICF Credentialed Coach Finder<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Look out! There\u2019s a tiger in your inbox!\u00a0 More accurately? It\u2019s an…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":12202,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"audience-type":[116],"display-option":[],"post-type":[128],"topic":[65],"_person-tax":[1409],"class_list":{"0":"post-11813","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"audience-type-coach-consumers","8":"post-type-blog","9":"topic-experience-coaching","10":"_person-tax-1409","11":"not-partnership-post","15":"_person-tax-7993","16":"has-featured-image"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11813"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15328,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11813\/revisions\/15328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"audience-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audience-type?post=11813"},{"taxonomy":"display-option","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/display-option?post=11813"},{"taxonomy":"post-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-type?post=11813"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=11813"},{"taxonomy":"_person-tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coachingfederation.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_person-tax?post=11813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}