Stop Stressing... Start Living...

"Give your Stress wings and let it fly away"

 
stress ('stres)
bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium
 
"Stress is not what happens to us. It's our response TO what happens. And RESPONSE is something we can choose"
Stress is our natural way of responding to the demands of our ever-changing world. Although we all experience change and demands regularly, the way that we interpret these internal and external changes directly affects the degree to which we feel stress. As a result, not all individuals interpret the same events as stressful; what may seem stressful to you may not be the same for your best friend, and vice versa.
 
"Pressure and stress is the common cold of the psyche"
Although some stress is a natural and inevitable part of our lives, feeling burdened or unable to cope can be problematic and can seriously affect your mental and physical well-being. Constantly being exposed to stressful situations can be over-stimulating and if we are constantly feeling stressed, we may begin to feel unable to manage the problems at hand. In order to avoid situations in which we feel “overloaded,” we must first identify what stresses us, what our threshold for stress is, and how we can most effectively manage stressful situations.
 
"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize that you haven't fallen asleep yet."
 

Causes
 
" There are thousands of causes of stress and one antidote to stress is self expression."
Many external and internal factors can cause stress.
• Environment – We all have highly individual responses to the world around us. One person may feel equally comfortable in a small town and a big city whereas another person may be overwhelmed by a city’s noise, intense pace, and crowded streets.
• Events – From taking final exams to introducing your significant other to your family, many situations can lead to stress. Some examples of stressful events include personal or family illness, increased work load, roommate conflicts, and more. Multiple events often combine and can leave you feeling weighed down.
• Expectations – Many of us demand a lot from ourselves and from others. Examples of
expectation-related stress include receiving lower grades than expected and not getting certain internships or jobs. Stress has a close link with perfectionism
 

Am I stressed?
 
Stress Symptoms
Before being able to identify stressors (the things that make us stressed in the first place), it is important to identify whether or not stress has become a problem in your life. Take note of any emotional and physical changes that you have recently experienced:
• Are you irritable?
• Are you easily upset over small events?
• Are you feeling isolated or withdrawn from your peers and loved ones?
• Are you unhappy with yourself? (i.e., do you have feelings of worthlessness?)
 
Physically, are you experiencing.
• Sleeplessness?
• Irregular eating?
• Difficulty breathing?
• Low energy?
• Lack of concentration?
• Loss of interest?
• Over-tiredness?
 
 
I'm stressed... what do I do Now?
 
"In times of stress, be bold and valiant."
"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."
 
1. Create Mind & Body Balance
Practice Deep Breathing
Exercise
Sleep
Eat Well
 
2. Positively Adjust your Attitude
Know and respect your limits
Be an advocate of yourself instead of a critic
Visualize Success
 
3. Reach Out
Shift your focus
Talk to others
Explore your spiritual side
 
"Stress is an ignorant state.
It believes that everything is an emergency."

WAYS TO CUT STRESS
One of a Cardiac Surgeon having this writes-up on his table

Have fun :
Do things for the sheer fun of it.
Each day plan to do something “Just for you”.
Even if you have only 30 minutes of fun time,
don’t let anything stop you from your 30 minutes.
 
Laugh :
Interact with people who make you laugh to reduce tension and boost immune system.
 
Learn to say “NO” :
Too much fun can become boring.
When requests and irritations become a burden instead of being enjoyable learn to say “NO”.
 
Simplify your life :
Move closer to your work, hire a maid or shop by internet.
 
Delegate responsibility :
Sharing duties allows time together and gets the job done faster.
 
Learn to relax :
Periodically visualize calming scenes, stretch and take deep breaths.
 
Don’t be workaholic :
Find a healthy balance between health and play.
 
Break tasks into segments :
Break down tasks into easy to handle segments and problems.
It is easier to eat an elephant one bite at a time.
 
Keep your job skills current :
If you have current job skills, changes and layoffs at work are not so stressful.
You can take the attitude of an acquaintance of mine who takes work with an “Oh! Well, I was looking for a job when I got this one. And I might be looking again”. He knows his job skills are in demand.
 
Take care of your family and friends :
Having Relationships in your life is less stressful.
 
Examine work habits :
If you are constantly stressed at work, examine your work habits.
May be you are wasting time.
 
Drink water :
Consume 8-10 glasses of pure water daily
 
Eat sensibly :
You are what you eat. A diet change would help you, too.
 
Get quality sleep :
Sleep is an essential recovery mechanism.
Sleep on your back or sides, not on your stomach
 
Stop using drugs :
Stop smoking, avoid recreational drugs and alcohols.
Remember that food is a drug also.
 
Schedule time :
Allow enough time to reach the place or goal you wish without rushing.
 
Exercise regularly :
Take a vigorous work, Jog or swim for an average of 20 minutes daily or
45 minutes three times a week.
 
Control your attitude :
About the only part of your life you can control completely is your attitude.
 
Be prepared :
Being prepared stops stress in advance.
 
Think positive :
If something is stressful, make a list of every positive aspect of your situation.
 
Improve yourself :
Broaden your knowledge through reading, seminars and self-improvement courses.
 
Live within your means :
Constantly overspending is definitely stressful.
 
Save money :
Having an emergency “nest egg” makes you less stressed.
 
Consider a career change :
Burnout can be very stressful.
If that has happened to you, consider changing careers.
 
Handle stress now :
Putting off stressful events only makes them more stressful.
Settle matters that are troubling you “as they occur”.
Procrastination usually leads to increased stress, so don’t procrastinate.

... Start Living...

Brought to you by 'SIP Friends Welfare Trust'
www.sipfriends.org