Stress-Less

Stress is an inevitable part of our daily lives unless we are lucky enough to be right at this moment sitting on a beautiful island enjoying the sunshine and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore... Living in a City can be particularly demanding and when the expectations we place on ourselves and our work are so high, sometimes life can seem overwhelming.

Some years ago I remember attending a stress management course at work where we placed sticky dots on our hands which changed colour as we got more wound up. Now I am not sure I needed a dot to tell me that I was feeling out of control!

Seriously though, knowing what techniques work for you to help you cope when your blood pressure is rising can be a life saver. Try one or two or more of the following tips and notice what works best for you. Also take the Extreme Self Care Analysis Questionnaire in the resources section to monitor your progress.

Take Care of Your Body

Well nourished and rested bodies are much better able to cope with the rigours of daily life. Lack of sleep, too much caffeine and sugar can contribute to feelings of irritability and tension. Drinking plenty of water helps to rehydrate your body and reduce headaches. Eating Super Foods can contribute to feelings of well being and there are some delicious recipes in Michael van Straten's, The Complete Superfoods Cookbook.

Do avoid Alcohol and drugs. They may provide temporary relief but can only mask or disguise problems and in the long run increase rather than decrease stress.

Physical exercise, such as running, swimming, or walking, is a great option to release tension and energise you.

Know your Circle of Influence

In Stephen Covey's book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, he writes about the Circle of Influence and the Circle of Concern. We each have a wide range of concerns at some time in our lives - our family, our relationships, problems at work and it is these that make up our Circle of Concern. Some things we have little or no real control over and others we can do something about. The latter are concerns that are within your Circle of Influence. People who focus their energy and efforts on the Circle of Influence work on things they can do something about and as a result the nature of their energy is positive and enlarging, causing their Circle of Influence to increase. As Stephen Covey says 'Be part of the solution, not part of the problem'.

Connect with Others

Being lonely or alone can mean you spend much more time imaging the worst or 'catastrophising'. A good way to combat this is to get out and about and involved in activities with others or with your local community or charity.

Laugh out Loud

Laughter like exercise releases tension and floods your body with 'feel good' chemicals. Whatever makes you laugh whether it is watching a funny movie, a comedy show on the television or spending time with someone who makes you see the silly side of life, seek out some fun during your working week on a regular basis.

Set your Boundaries and
Know your Limits

A huge source of stress is overcommitment and poor time management. Resist the temptation to schedule things back to back and build in enough flexibility to allow for planning and preparation time and dealing with the odd crisis.

Take a Mini Vacation

As part of your week try to plan ahead and allocate specific days or time of day for your stress reduction plan whether this is meditation, reading, listening to music, being with friends, taking the dog for a walk or playing tennis. Make sure to turn off the phone, switch off the TV, and close down the computer!

Finally...

As Elisabeth Kubler-Ross said,

"there is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub".

Wishing you a peaceful and relaxing time.

If you would like support in getting ahead in your career, contact CareerInsights at info@careerinsights.co.uk
tel: 020 8841 5407 or 07958 636291

See our website at: www.careerinsights.co.uk