REDUCING STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE

A New Perspective

STRESS AND WORK / LIFE BALANCE ARE HOT TOPICS AT THE MOMENT, BUT ARE WE PERHAPS NOT PUTTING UNDUE EMPHASIS ON THE WHOLE QUESTION OF STRESS?

There is no such thing as stress. There are only circumstances that you are faced with and that you then have to react to, and, depending on how you have conditioned yourself, you may then deem that circumstance to be stressful.

Each of us reacts differently to different circumstances or situations which means what is stressful for one person may be the opposite for another. Hence the reason I offer the argument that there is no such thing as stress.

It boils down to your perception of a situation that will determine whether you allow your stress response system to react or not.

Having introduced the idea that our perception of the whole stress concept may need to be reviewed this does not reduce the fact that the modern world is fraught with pressures, demands, and expectations, that, if not managed correctly, will create a state of overwhelm, which will up-regulate one’s stress response system.

What it means for you when you perceive any circumstance or situation, a comment, a deadline, an altercation, or something that challenges you as stress is that your body goes into a physiological defense pattern.

A NUMBER OF BODY SYSTEMS REACT, RESULTING IN:

Your heart rate and blood pressure rising

Your muscles contracting causing back pain, neck pain, and tension headaches

Your digestive system slowing down leading to IBS, food allergies and intolerances, and potentially an ulcer

Your reproductive system slowing down leading to reduced libido, hormonal fluctuations, and even infertility

Your serotonin (the happy chemical) production declining resulting in a lack of motivation, reduced enthusiasm, and interest in things you used to enjoy, and even depression

An overproduction of cortisol, one of your stress chemicals, which affects your sleep pattern, causing you to wake at 1, 2, or 3 am.

These stress patterns can continue for years producing only sub-clinical symptoms or what can be referred to as dis-ease. That means that everything your doctor tests for comes up negative, in spite of you knowing and feeling that something is wrong. Eventually, your body can no longer cope, and then disease sets in.

Controlling your reaction to what you are exposed to is therefore extremely important in order to age healthily and this is easier than you may think.

Avoid catastrophizing. Think carefully before calling ‘everything’ a stressor. You can talk yourself into stress. The more you ‘tell’, and affirm to your brain that something is stressful, the more it will believe it and react accordingly.

Choose your words carefully. Adjust your vocabulary to avoid the word’s stress, hectic, overwhelmed, and ‘getting old is not for sissies’. Sending verbal signals to your brain that affirm stress, will activate your stress response system.

Avoid getting into the trap of spending time with negative people. Being exposed to repeated references to stress, not only from your own self-talk but from those around you is a further affirmation that life is indeed stressful.

Practice conscious positivity. Every morning make your very first thought on waking start with ‘I feel, happy, I feel healthy and I feel terrific’ and ‘today is going to be a great day.’

Practice the ‘It’s Just A Thing’ technique. No matter what happens, it’s just a thing, until you decide to put a label on ‘the thing’. How you choose to label ‘the thing’ is the important part.

At the end of the day, it’s all about your mindset. Committing to working on your mindset every day will be the decision that will change your life.

OTHER POWERFUL WAYS TO COMBAT STRESS, WHETHER AT WORK OR HOME INCLUDE:

Introduce regular physical activity into your time budget. Expose yourself to nature and consciously focus your attention on the beauty

Commit to enjoying a healthy and nutritious lifestyle . Practice conscious breathing . When faced with any challenge…STOP! Before defaulting to the old ‘stress label’ BREATHE . Deeply in through your nose, slowly, and out through your mouth, slowly. Minimum of 5x. Surround yourself with positive, fun, and happy people. Make sure you laugh, a lot, and often.

Be sure to factor in some ‘downtime’ . Stop the ‘I feel guilty if I…..’ Paradoxically, your productivity will increase when your brain, and body are allowed time to recuperate.

Introduce something creative into your life. Drawing, painting, learning to play a musical instrument, music, singing, journaling, pottery, carpentry, creating your vision board, reading, puzzles, writing a book. There are hundreds of options. you are surrounded by.

The sooner you accept that life will never be ‘plain sailing’ all the time, that you will be challenged, and that you can control your reaction to life, the easier you will find it will be to manage life rather than let life manage you.

Article provided by Dr Kevin Lentin

His 38 years as a clinician has been aimed at helping, guiding and coaching his patients and clients to thrive... physically, mentally, neuro-biochemically, hormonally and psycho- emotionally.

RESILIENCE IS A TERM THAT’S OFTEN TALKED ABOUT IN CIRCLES, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN?

Resilience is the ability to adapt and bounce back in the face of adversity, trauma, or stress. It’s the strength to persevere and move forward despite life’s challenges. Resilience is not just an innate trait that some people possess and others don’t, but rather a skill that can be developed and strengthened over time.

Resilience is crucial for both personal and professional success. Life is full of unexpected challenges and setbacks, and those who are resilient are better equipped to handle them. Resilience helps individuals to remain calm and focused in the face of adversity, make sound decisions, and maintain a positive outlook on life.

Resilience is also important for mental health. Research shows that resilience is linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety, as well as improved coping skills. When faced with difficult situations, those who are resilient are better able to manage their emotions and maintain a sense of control.

Resilience is needed in a variety of situations, including:

Personal setbacks such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, or illness

Professional setbacks such as job loss or failure

Natural disasters or other traumatic events

In all of these situations, resilience is key to moving forward and overcoming the challenges that arise.

This article was sponsored by YuLife Insurance

Many famous people have demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. Here are just a few examples:

Oprah Winfrey – Oprah was born into poverty and suffered abuse as a child, but went on to become one of the most successful talk show hosts and media moguls in history.

J.K. Rowling – Rowling was a struggling single mother living on welfare when she wrote the first Harry Potter book, which became a global phenomenon.

Michael Jordan – Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team but went on to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Lady Gaga - Lady Gaga was dropped by her first record label and went bankrupt before releasing her debut album, which sold millions of copies worldwide.

Jim Carrey – Carrey grew up in poverty and dropped out of high school to help support his family, but became a successful comedian and actor.

Sylvester Stallone – Stallone was broke and homeless before writing and starring in the hit movie Rocky, which launched his career.

Jennifer Aniston – Aniston struggled to make it in Hollywood before landing the role of Rachel on Friends, which catapulted her to fame and success.

SO, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY?

Adversity is an inevitable part of life. It can be caused by a variety of factors such as personal setbacks, health issues, financial problems, or unexpected events. But the way we deal with adversity can have a significant impact on our lives. Here are some ways to overcome adversity:

Develop a positive mindset: Maintaining a positive attitude can help you stay focused and motivated during difficult times. Believe in yourself and your abilities to overcome the challenges that come your way.

Seek support: Don't be afraid to reach out to friends and family members for emotional support.

T alking to someone you trust can help you gain a fresh perspective and find solutions to your problems.

Set realistic goals: Break down your larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. This can help you stay focused and motivated, and give you a sense of accomplishment in your progress.

Stay flexible: Sometimes things don't go as planned. It's important to stay open to new ideas and approaches and be willing to adapt to changing circumstances.

Remember, overcoming adversity is not about avoiding challenges or problems. It’s about developing the resilience and skills you need to face them head-on and come out stronger on the other side.