Dealing With STRESS
Friday, June 04, 2010
First of all - a little stress is good… It does motivate us to get out of bed and go to work.
However - when you feel “stressed out”, you perceive the demands on you outweigh your perceived capabilities.
Along with the emotional toll, prolonged stress can drastically affect your physical health. Preoccupation with responsibilities often leads to erratic eating habits and not enough exercise, resulting in weight problems, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels.
Stress can also cause ‘burnout’, a condition marked by emotional exhaustion, and negative or cynical attitudes toward others (and yourself). Stress can lead to depression, which, in turn, has been linked to heart disease and stroke, obesity and eating disorders, diabetes, lung ailments, cirrhosis of the liver, some forms of cancer, accidents, and in extreme cases, even suicide. In addition, chronic depression reduces your immunity to other illnesses.
Stress can cause you to lack emotion, or be slow to react/think, and/or be argumentative. And these ‘issues’ can run off friends, family and clients.
So what can you do when you think you may be stressing?
First, give yourself a break. Nobody is perfect. While we strive to do everything in our power to do the best we can in order to protect ourselves, our friends, family, and our clients, mistakes will happen. So do not expect perfection every time.
Take a mind break. Even 10 minutes of meditation/prayer will refresh your mental outlook. Try this:
Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Start with your feet… flex/relax Then move up to your calves… flex/relax. Then go to your thighs… flex/relax. Your butt… flex/relax. Your abs… flex/relax. Fists… flex/relax. Forearms… flex/relax. Biceps… flex/relax. Shoulders… flex/relax. Face… contort/relax.
Each time you relax, say to yourself - “Let it go”.
Take a physical break. A brief walk works wonders.
Talk about it with me or anyone else you trust who will keep your private matters private.
Eat, good, balanced meals, and take vitamins and other supplements. Remember, your immune system is stressed to the max when you are stressed. Help it fight stress!
Stop with the negative self-talk. Increase the positive self-talk! (Damn, I’m good! I know so much more than other people I compete against. Therefore I AM better than everyone else!) REMEMBER - What we say to ourselves [repeatedly] will lead to reality!
And finally———-
Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.
- Scott Askew
Posted in: Intown Living