How To Use Things You Own to Reduce Stress and Boost Motivation

What’s your most cherished value? We all have driving forces that keep us inspired and motivated, whether it’s supporting our loved ones, giving to those in need, finding fulfillment in our work, or making a difference in our community. 

Determining your most cherished value and using it to your advantage can drastically change your approach to your work, infusing you with additional internal motivation, says Rebecca Greenbaum, Ph.D., professor of human resource management at Rutgers University’s School of Management and Labor Relations.

That’s where value triggers come in. Value triggers are items that represent something that matters deeply to you — for example, a key ring that belonged to your grandmother can be used as a value trigger representing how you prioritize family. “A value trigger is a physical reminder of your core values,” Steven Hayes, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Nevada and author of A Liberated Mind, tells Thrive. “It is there to help you refocus back on what matters most to you, making you more inclined to act in line with your highest ideals.” 

Value triggers are especially effective at keeping your work life on track. “Having purpose prompts employees to want to go to work and do a good job, without focusing as much on external rewards,” Greenbaum explains. “When the going gets tough, an employee’s sense of purpose reminds them of the importance of their work, and gives them the fortitude to move forward.”

Here are four expert-backed tips for finding your own value trigger:

1. Do some soul-searching

Before you choose an object to act as your value trigger, it’s important to make sure you’ve chosen a value that truly resonates with you. Hayes stresses the importance of avoiding choosing certain values due to pressure from others. For example, if your mother greatly values tradition, but you value independence, make sure to follow through with what youbelieve — not with what will make others happy.

Additionally, Hayes urges against choosing values you believe you should have — that will only create internal distress. “Values chosen out of emotional avoidance or entangled ‘have to’ thoughts push you down rather than lift you up,” he tells Thrive. “True values are something you seek — they are not methods of running away.”

And make sure your value integrates naturally into everything you do. “The ones that work best are intrinsic to being and doing, such as behaving honestly or lovingly,” Hayes says. “Values like that protect you from stress reactivity and burnout.”

2. Choose your item carefully

Value triggers come in all shapes and sizes. A few common examples include pictures, jewelry, or even a Post-It note, Hayes notes. He also suggests using more intangible things, such as a mantra or ringtone. Greenbaum proposes displaying quotes in your office, or creating an email signature that is meaningful to you, to serve as daily reminders of your core value.

The key here is choosing something that fits naturally into your daily life. Set yourself up for success by making interaction with your value trigger inevitable. “If you want to be reminded of the values you bring to your home life, pick a trigger, like the keys of your car, that you will have to interact with before you go home,” Hayes says. “If you take your wedding ring off at night, use that little moment of putting it back on in the morning to think about the kind of spouse you want to be that day.”

Many people already carry around value triggers without realizing it: pictures of loved ones in your wallet or on your desk, wedding rings, or award certificates hanging on your office walls. The trick is making use of that trigger.

3. Tap into the power of rituals

Value triggers are effective — but only when you actually use them. Hayes explains that value triggers are something of a use it or lose it scenario. Simply having a value trigger isn’t enough to reap the benefits.

In order to get the maximum benefit, you have to make a habit of finding meaning in your value triggers, Greenbaum notes. Rituals can enhance a person’s self-control, and allow them to focus on what’s most important. Employees should start their work days reminding themselves about their values, and how they’ll uphold those values throughout the day, she says.

4. Reflect and reevaluate as you go

Remain mindful about what matters and never take values for granted. Both experts emphasize the importance of deep reflection throughout the process of choosing and utilizing value triggers.

Reflecting on values regularly allows you to continually determine their importance in your life. “Make a concerted effort to reflect on your values before entering a situation where those values may be challenged,” says Greenbaum. “By actively and strategically thinking about the application of your values, they will become an integral part of how you work — rather than something that you attend to only when it is convenient.”

And don’t be afraid to reevaluate your values as the need arises. People change over time, and so do their values. By reevaluating, you can make sure that the value you choose to prioritize always matches up with where you are. “It’s okay if your values change. The idea is not to find the ‘ideal’ value, but to be actively engaged in the process of finding out what matters most to you. Hold them lightly, but pursue them passionately,” Hayes says.

Written by Katie Santamaria, Former Thrive Global Editorial Intern & Editor-at-Large for Columbia University. Originally shared on Thrive Global.


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Tips to Manage Stress from Some Powerful People

Feeling overwhelmed? These six celeb’s share their tips to manage stress.


Guest Post By Jane Burnett, Editorial Fellow Thrive Global

Anne Hathaway uses a ‘get it out and get rid of it’ approach

She revealed her unique approach for tackling stress and anxiety, “Set a timer (for 12 minutes) on your phone, have a candle nearby, and write it all down. You spew it all out. You do not read it. The timer goes off, you tear it out of the book, and you light it on fire,” she told Town & Country. She recommends pouring your stresses onto the page for 12 minutes before putting down your pen.

Even if you’d prefer not to actually set your journal entry ablaze, Hathaway’s strategy does show the utility of physically getting your stresses out of sight.

And Hathaway isn’t the only one with creative strategies for handling stress — here are some smart tips from other stars on the topic.

Lili Reinhart looks to the calming power of the beach

The Riverdale actress told Imagista, “I try to spend as much time with my family and close friends, I go to the beach a lot, sometimes even by myself. The world is overwhelming a lot of the times and I find myself to be an anxious person. I get stressed out and overwhelmed so I find it therapeutic to be at the beach.” Spending time in nature is, in fact, a productive way to unwind.

Kerry Washington believes in the power of optimism

The actress told ESSENCE about her strategy for moving forward through difficult times: “No matter how bad things are — whether it was the period when I first sought out treatment for my eating disorder or when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer or when the engagement dissolved — I know the other side is going to be better. Maybe even miraculously better. I hold on to that.”

Brad Pitt re-focuses on his favorite hobby

The actor told PARADE that his love of architecture can ease his mind — showing the power of beloved activities. “If I have something that I’m dealing with that’s causing me a lot of stress, my mind goes to architecture. I walk around the yard and start thinking about what I need to do to the house structurally. It’s similar to puzzles in that way, like a crossword puzzle or anything else I can put my mind into. It’s a relief for me,” he said.

tips to manage stressZendaya turns to her “coloring station”

The actress tweeted about how coloring helps her manage stress, writing, “I literally have a coloring station at my house, in my house we all find it quite therapeutic. It helps me with stress.” Research also backs Zendaya’s playful approach — coloring has been found to reduce stress and anxiety.

Michelle Obama hits the gym

The former First Lady told Marie Claire that working out is a great outlet for her when she feels like she’s under a lot of pressure. “Exercise is really important to me — it’s therapeutic. So if I’m ever feeling tense or stressed or like I’m about to have a meltdown, I’ll put on my iPod and head to the gym or out on a bike ride along Lake Michigan with the girls,” she said.


Another way to manage stress?

Take some time away. Go to a new city. Seek out a new environment to help you find balance. Work remotely from an innovative, inspiring city for the month. Or simply take a break, travel to write, take a sabbatical – it’s entirely up to you. Learn more about living in a new city for a month here.

Originally posted on Thrive Global here.

Written by Jane Burnett, Editorial Fellow at Thrive Global