We all talk about stress, but it is not always clear exactly what stress is. Generally we think of things that make us worry as stressful. However, good things can also be stressful. For example, getting sick or having an argument can be stressful, but so can be due to getting a promotion or attending a party.
Stress is the way you react both physically and mentally to life’s changes. Your body automatically responds to the challenging situation by tensing the muscles and increasing the heart rate. Good stress encourages you to focus, concentrate and get things done. Bad stress occurs when you cannot relax after a stressful situation.
Things will always happen in life, for which we have no control. It is impossible to avoid stress. Long term stress can put strain on both your physical and mental health. So, it is important to develop effective ways to deal with the stresses in your life. Common sources of stress are job, personal life and environment. At workplace, you may be pressurised to meet deadlines, or have conflicts with boss or co-worker or you may not be getting paid properly for long hours etc.
In your personal life, you may be experiencing money problems, divorce, caring for children, sickness or death of a loved one etc. Environmental factors like weather, pollution, safety are also some sources of stress.
At the moment here in Newfoundland we are having continuous snow storm . You can see mountains of snow everywhere, very difficult to move from one place to another either by car or by metrobus. Some people here are really stressed out with this severe winter.
You can learn to control stress by being aware of stressful situations in your life, by taking steps to reduce the source of stress and by finding a stress reduction technique that you can use, when experiencing stress.
Here are some tips, to manage your stress!
1) Exercise regularly - physical activity is a good way to work off tension.
2) Eat right food - well balanced, nutritious meals will help your body cope with physical effects of stress.
3) Take time for yourself- develop a new hobby, do something which you have always wanted to do or something fun to relax.
4) Talk with your friend - talk out your problems you will feel relieved!
5) Organize - make a list of things to do.
6) Plan - the things you need to do, prioritize what needs to be done for your career, finances and family .
7) Learn to say NO - Yes, I mean it! By learning to say no, you are trying not to take up too many responsibilities!
Hope these tips will be of some help to you all. Let us manage stress so that we won’t be managed by stress! It is good to be a manager than being managed by somebody! Don’t you agree with me?