Are you a brand new business owner? New Parent? Starting a new job in a new city? Or maybe you’ve been given more responsibilities on your current job3 and today is the day that your introductory presentation is due. It’s quite possible that none of these may fit your current circumstances, but none of us are exempt from slight to severe forms of stress.
Not all stress is bad, however, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, with prolonged or chronic stress, the same nerve chemicals that are life-saving in short bursts can suppress functions that aren't needed for immediate survival. Chronic stress can lead to lowered immunity and problems with your digestive and reproductive systems, among other things.
The key is not allowing the stress to overcome you! Yes, everyone will handle (and has handled) stress in different ways, so not every solution is going to work for you, however here are a few things to consider in an effort to de-stress!
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1. Stop waiting until the last possible minute to get things done. Some of our stress is brought on by our own actions. There are some people who feel that they work well under pressure, or work well against a deadline looming near; it’s not healthy. Any way you slice it, you are producing anxiety, and there is always the possibility that you will make errors. Plan a strategy for getting projects done. Work on them a little at a time, especially if you have multiple projects to complete that will be due around the same time!
2. Find time in your day to simply “breathe”. It may be that your lunch hour is the only time that you are able to take your mind off of work. Make sure that you use any free time wisely that you are able to secure. Play soft music, try reading the “funny papers” (laughing is very relaxing), start reading your new book or write in your journal. Free time should be used to be “free,” so no working on your breaks!
3. Plan a “staycation”. We aren’t always able to travel to that tropical island, or to another desirable place away from home, but a mini “staycation” may just be the perfect getaway from the norm that you could use! For example, if you are a resident of the East Coast, book a hotel room for the weekend, catch a Broadway play or two, and eat at restaurants that you wouldn’t ordinarily patronize. Experience your city in a totally different way by planning a staycation!
4. Make time for mediation and reflection weekly. You would be the one to determine how frequently during the week you would need to schedule this quiet time, however, it’s important to unwind and think about where you are, where you're headed, and what you may need to do differently. A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison indicates that the practice of “Open Monitoring Meditation” (such as Vipassana), reduces the grey-matter density in areas of the brain related with anxiety and stress. You are important to your end goal. If you’re always sick or always tired, how will you effectively reach your end goal? Spend some time with your spouse; read a book to your children; have a visit with an elderly relative; sit quietly at your favorite coffee house…you choose what quiet meditation and reflection looks like and get some of that time in for yourself.
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It is very easy for us to get overwhelmed and we sometimes take out our frustrations on those closest to us. Let’s practice productive self-care habits to ensure that we are being good to ourselves! Stress will come, but make sure that stress will go!
