Louise Lloyd - Stresshacking: 50 simple strategies to get your life, your mind, and your mojo back

First published in Great Britain by Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2020

Louise Lloyd, 2020

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

ISBN 9781788601672 (print)

9781788601665 (epub)

9781788601658 (mobi)

All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the author.

Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The publisher apologizes for any errors or omissions and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

To my amazing parents and friends:
I love and appreciate you dearly.
To you, the reader: I sincerely hope this book
helps in some way.
And to love; to us all living as it and for it.

Table of contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A huge thank you to Alison Jones and the entire team at Practical Inspiration Publishing along with Newgen Publishing UK, without whom this book would not have been possible.

I knew what I wanted to share but I had no idea how to bring it all together into a book and they have all held my hand and made it happen. Thank you!

I am lucky to have amazing parents and friends and it is their love and support that has stood by me throughout my whole life; writing this book was no exception.

Without meaning to sound vague, and I dont say this lightly, I must acknowledge the many people whose paths have met mine throughout life. I have learnt, and continue to learn, so much from every encounter, however long or brief. This includes the many clients and people from all walks of life that I have had the pleasure to work with over the years. You all inspire me to do the best that I can and be the best I can be.

I would like to acknowledge anyone that I have in any way hurt or impacted negatively. I am sorry, and you too inspire me to become better. I continue to learn.

And finally, I acknowledge love itself; it is behind all that I do, all that I am and all that I wish to become.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louise Lloyd is a mindset and wellbeing coach. Through speaking engagements, coaching and The Inspired Zone Podcast, she helps people to hack stress, limits and lifestyles. Louise is on a mission to stop stress and fear getting in the way of people realizing their potential and leading healthy, happy lives.

From CEOs and business owners to coders, scientists and PAs, her practical and effective approach helps people to overcome the challenges they face. She leads sessions for global senior leadership programmes, helping leaders to maintain presence and focus amid pressure.

Having ridden for Great Britain during her career as a professional event rider, Louise knows what it takes to handle pressure and to navigate lifes inevitable ups and downs. Her interests in all things mindset began in the 1990s when she was introduced to meditation. The practice gave her significant insight into transcending an overthinking mind and fear, something she has been helping others with ever since.

Louises background in teaching yoga, meditation and breath practices informs her understanding of the simple and transformational tools that she shares today. She has become the go-to person for many people in moments of crisis or when they feel stuck in life.

Through her interest in helping people move past the boundaries of their comfort zones, she has helped thousands of people to overcome fear, anxiety and limiting mindsets, enabling them to take back control of their lives and go for their dreams.

You can find Louise at www.louiselloyd.life

INTRODUCTION

Stress is your wake-up call.

Let me say this from the outset: things can change. I know you dont know me yet, but please trust me when I say that they can.

Whether youre a busy working professional feeling overwhelmed with work pressure, a parent trying to meet the demands of a crazily busy life, or you are fed up with how you think and feel, then know that it can all change. Whatever the reason behind you coming to the point of reading this book, I am glad that you did.

I want to show you that it is possible to be busy without being stressed. To be successful without burning out. That you can be challenged without being overwhelmed.

You have gifts and talents to share and I want to help you to remove everything that gets in the way of you doing that. I want you to be the amazing person that you truly are and to find all the love, peace and fulfilment that you deserve.

At times, we all find ourselves out of our depth in life. We all have the potential to become stressed, ungenerous and fearful. Too often, we are our own worst enemy and lose sight of who we know we can be. I dont want that to happen. I care deeply about us hacking through anything that gets in the way of us being the amazing human beings that we are. I want that for all of us, and for the world that we live in. Beyond all of the stress that you may currently feel, it is your true nature to be kind, generous and loving. You have a unique brilliance to bring to the world that we live in even if you dont recognize it.

So however far off that feels for you right now, I know thats who you are. Through this book we will unpick it all together, openly and honestly.

Let the stress that you feel be a brilliant opportunity to reboot your life and to live the life you are here to lead. Stress is not our enemy; its a sign that something needs attention. Our error is ignoring it. Doing so leaves us needing pills for chronic conditions and aches and pains, and it gives us sleepless nights. Ignoring it ruins our relationships, our confidence and our quality of life. I hope that as you read this book you will see that you dont have to put up with a life led by stress.

Stress is your call to action.

I will guide you through dealing with the causes and symptoms of stress so that you can get your life back. You will become more at ease at being yourself. Of course, there are times in life when things happen that do cause overwhelming stress. I hope that the tools in this book will help you to navigate your way through such times; they have certainly helped me to navigate my way through mine.

Ive called this book Stresshacking for two reasons. The first reason is that I know that it is possible to hack through the causes of stress to kick them into touch in a powerful and effective way. I have used all of the tips and tools in this book, both personally and with the many people I have so far helped, so I know the potential they have to change peoples lives. The second reason is a nod to my previous horse days, when a hack meant going for a nice ride in the countryside and, rather like many of the hacks in this book, I love that it implies the ease and steadiness of a hack in that way.

The focus of this book will be you.

I will help you to reorganize your inner world and your outer one. Of course, the book will cover practical day-to-day