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This is part 1 of a three part series on staying healthy.  The first topic of concern is stress.  Stress is an everyday occurrence in life.  If left unchecked, it can negatively impact a person’s physical and mental health. The goal is to provide you with tips on how to deal with stress in a positive manner.

Are you feeling stressed?  The answer is “Yes” for most people. The biggest lifestyle risk is stress according to a study of 892 employers worldwide by A Towers Watson and Company.  After stress comes obesity and lack of physical activity.  These three areas of risk would seem to interact with each other.  Dealing more effectively with stress would more positively impact the other two risks. The dollar cost of job stress is $30 billion per year according to the American Psychological Association.

There are two types of Stress:

  • Eustress – This is “positive” stress that is reinforcing a feeling of fulfillment. It often occurs with exercise.
  • Distress – This is the “negative” stress that causes depression and decreases motivation and physical/mental wellbeing.

Long term Distress can manifest in many physical and mental impairments.  Physical manifestations include pain, fatigue, obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disease including heart disease with an increased risk of heart attack.  Mental manifestations include depression and anxiety.

In order to increase health, job satisfaction, and productivity, it is necessary to pursue stress reduction.  The first step is to acknowledge the presence of stress and then alter reactions and behaviors that are not dealing with the stress in a productive manner.  Options such as meditation, visualization of a peaceful place, establishing a personal mantra, or just maintaining a positive attitude should be considered as possible reactions to negative stress.

Rituals can be very beneficial in reducing work stress.  Once the work day has ended, start your exit from work by making your next day task list and cleaning your work space.  When you have departed your work area, establish rituals to disassociate from work physically, mentally, and emotionally.  If you are driving, use non work related audio recordings for relaxation.  If public transportation is used, it may be possible to read a relaxing book.  Establish a ritual for some type of exercise once you have left work.  It could be joining a class offered at a gym or just walking a pleasant route for at least 30 minutes either alone or with a friend.  Rituals should be relaxing and provide a positive end to your work day!

Remember that the first step to reducing stress is the acknowledgement that it exists.  It is often necessary to not only admit it to yourself, but discuss it with your significant other, close friends, or work supervisor.  Once the stress is identified, then positive methods to deal with it more effectively and efficiently need to be established. Utilize the coping strategies discussed above such as meditation, rituals and exercise will enhance your overall wellbeing.  If the stress is too intense, always consider the option to seek professional medical or psychological assistance.  The stress may be only a signal of other more serious issues.

To assist with further research in the topic of stress, the following is offered as possible resources:

Companies Focus On Worker Stress as Talent Gets Harder to Keep – http://www.ere.net/2014/12/23/companies-focus-on-worker-stress-as-talent-gets-harder-to-keep

6 Psychotherapies to Reduce Stress at Work – http://www.clomedia.com/articles/print/6203-6-psychotherapies-to-reduce-stress-at-work

 

 

 

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