Stress Management | Handle Stress

Death and taxes are supposedly the two most certain things in life. OK, but what about stress? From the most simple minded all the way up to the heartiest individuals on the planet, we all have stress. What are you afraid of? Are you worried that you won’t get everything done today that you need to get done? Identifying your own individual cause of stress means stepping back and taking a good long, hard look at your life. You’ll notice, the previous sentence said your life; not somebody else’s. You will not find and conquer the cause of stress in your life by comparing it to somebody else’s. What solves other people’s problems will not necessarily solve yours; even if the problems seem similar in nature. You need to get to the core of what is causing your stress. Once you identify it, you can then begin to deal with it.

Maybe you are unfortunate enough to be in a miserable relationship. Possibly you cannot stand your boss; or on a larger scale, you simply hate your job. Possibly you feel overwhelmed at work and need a way to balance things out. Either one of these situations is going to require you to view them in a new light. If the relationship is miserable (and undoubtedly so are you) you either need to fix what is wrong or get out of it. That may be cold and blunt, but it is the truth. If it is work that has got you down see if the chain of command or human resources can help.

Seeking other employment at this stage of the economic game is rough, granted; but it may be your only option. Staying in a stressful situation without identifying and rectifying its cause is the worst thing you can do. Making changes in your life may cause temporary stress but in the long run may well be your healthiest choice.

We adults have messed up this world pretty badly and the children will be the ones to suffer because of it. Many people say “what could a child possibly have to be stressed out about?” Clearly those people not only forgot what it’s like to be a kid but don’t have a clear picture of the world in which we live today. The increase in young suicide victims is appalling and a testament to the need for stress management in children if ever there was one. Peer pressure, lack of acceptance, parental discord and scholastic expectations are only a few of the burdens that kids carry around on their shoulders and in their minds every day. How can we, as a society, help them?

Parents, the ball is in your field on a relatively frequent basis. You must maintain a healthy relationship with her child. You are their touchstone… their constant. Not their constant harasser; they get enough of that at school. If your child is troubled they need to know that they can come to you. This is not to save that there will be no consequences for certain actions; but pay attention to what’s important. Don’t sweat the small stuff mom and dad. And remember… Almost all of it is small stuff. Physical expression of affection may be brushed off by a child that thinks there too old to be hugged and by dad or kissed by mom; but knowing that it is there is what is important to their stability and peace of mind.

Enjoy things as a family. Even if they protest, just as a way of the brushing off of your hugs, some tiny part of their heart and overloaded mind will enjoy it. And if enjoying things as a family can be done out of doors, even better! Children don’t get enough time outside. Between computers, video games, texting, attending school and studying their time outside is limited. If your child seems lonely a pet might be the answer to the stress and self doubt that loneliness can bring.

Now that they are supposedly equals in the workplace, women can be deluged with even more stress than they had at home; and the stress at home probably still continues. How can today’s women better learn how to handle stress? You will need to learn how to relax your body and your mind. Everyone around you shares the epidemic of daily stress. You can learn how to rise above it.

Light exercise, deep breathing, Zen and yoga are all not only popular methods of stress management for women but are gaining even more popularity as the economy worsens in America. Your general wellness can improve and you can achieve peace of mind. The trick is that you need somewhere peaceful in which to do it. Whether you utilize aroma therapy, soft music, meditation… Whatever you achieve the greatest stress release from… You will need to do it in an area in which you are undisturbed and surrounded by peacefulness. Humans can only block out so much with their minds; at least until they master the art of Zen and meditation.

Ever heard the old saying ‘you are what you eat’? Of course you have. Did you know that it also applies to stress? Alcohol consumption, snacking on junk foods or fast foods and the real kicker, smoking, will only add to your stress level and make it harder for your body to handle that stress. If you need to go outside of these methods there is always hypnosis or acupuncture. Ignoring stress will not do you, your family, or your career any good. Your health can even suffer from high levels of stress. Cardiac issues, diabetes, weight gain (and who needs that, ladies?) can all be health related side effects of stress.

Remember… You are woman! Let the others hear you roar! You will be judged by not only how well you do the same job that a man does but in how you handle the stress as well. It may not be fair, but fortunately you will rise to the occasion.

Everybody is stressed out at work; even if they like their jobs. It is one of the necessary evils of having and building a career. Fortunately there are time tested methods that will assist you in dealing with your everyday job stress and afford you a more enjoyable day.

First and foremost, you must prioritize your day. Poor planning can be a number one cause of stress at work. It always seems like you have more work to do and less time to do it. But by taking the work that you know you must complete and prioritizing it according to due dates / times and importance, you can lighten the load on your mind. What needs your attention right this minute? That’s important so put it at the top of your list.

What can wait? Those will be assigned a lower place in that seemingly never ending pile of assignments. And don’t dwell on one task. Set yourself a specific limit of time that you can spend on each job. Not only will you find that you have more time on your hands, the pressure that you had put on yourself to finish everything at once will be lessened. When people come to you with unnecessary interruptions you will need to instruct yourself in how to and practice saying… “No!”… in a nice way of course.

Now that you’ve lessened your stress level by prioritizing let’s lessen it even further by being absolutely sure to take frequent rests and breaks. A 15 minute break in the morning, a 15 minute break in the afternoon and some kind of break for lunch will not only give you the opportunity to nourish your body but relax your mind as well. You don’t need to be chained to your desk all day long. It will not improve your efficiency; just the opposite in fact. You need to clear your mind, take a breath of fresh air; and look at something other than the four walls of your office or cubicle.