Manage Stress

Few would dispute that work stresses are inevitable. Deadlines become tighter by the week, and staff-shortages certainly don't help. But, what fireflies is that stress is actually a natural, healthy response to what's going on around us. As our environment speeds-up, our bodies react, seeking out away to cope. Our adrenalin levels increase, our heartbeats faster and we breath more quickly. Stress doesn't have to be bad for us, provided that it comes in short-bursts, and we harness it. The problems come when we're stressed throughout the day, and, it's happening on a regular basis.

When you're overworked, it's hardly surprising that you become snappy and a little moody. Emotional responses to stress are among the most common reactions, and they are certainly the most visible, and immediate, signs that the pressure is getting too much. However, beyond these surface reactions, many become depressed and their self-esteem begins to suffer. The real difficulty is that when you're working hard, it's easy to loose sight of your feelings. When life is easy, you have all the time in the world to consider life and your emotions, but when there really is no time, how do you even realise that your are overly stressed? And, when you're emotions are at breaking point, objectivity is in short supply.

As overpowering as our emotions can be, the effects of stress can run much deeper, and the consequences can be much more serious. An overly stressful lifestyle can have severe physical ramifications, not least because compounded stress has been proven to suppress the immune system, and, consequently, increase the probability of illness. In the short-term, this might manifest itself in the form of poor skin condition, or perhaps the inability to fight off minor infections. Most people have been in the situation where they're run-down, and hit by a never-ending barrage of flu-symptoms. But, in the longer term, those illnesses can be much more serious.

Though stress has been an integral part of daily life since the human race began to hunt, it's a little too easy just to accept that life is stressful, and leave things be. But, there's actually a great deal that you can do to limit your stress levels and to channel what can actually be a positive energy, or driving force. Recognition is the key, and unless you're able to recognise that stress is adversely affecting you,there's little likelihood that you can do anything tocounter it..

Though life as a whole is stressful, there are usuallykey elements that create the greatest stresses.Inevitably, work plays its part, and the pressureshave never been greater. The journey to work can betough enough, and that's before you've even set footin the office. Look for ways of limiting thesestresses - do you really need to work nine to five, orcan you travel outside of the rush-hour? And, if yourworkload is weighing you down, look at ways of cuttingit. Taking on more and more work is an easy trap tofall into, especially when there's talk of promotion.But, overwork leads to lower performance levels in thelong-term. There's no shame in saying no, and we allhave the right to delegate upwards, though few of usdare.

Stresses don't begin and end at the office, our homelives can be just as stressful. Relationship problemscan take their toll, especially when they're combinedwith other pressures. If you can't see a way ofresolving your problems, maybe it's time to look toothers for help. That doesn't have to meanrelationship counselling, it can be as simple asasking friends and family to baby-sit, allowing youboth to enjoy a little time for yourselves.

Money worries can seemingly be a lot more difficult toresolve, and it's easy to get into the position whereyou can see no way out. But, again, help is available,if you know where to look. Most responsible creditagencies will provide access to a debt counsellingservice, who'll be able to help you put things intoperspective, and provide you with practical advice. Ifthe problem is a little less serious, but stillworrying all the same, many banks will offer impartialadvice on budgeting.

Sometimes though, there's little that you can do tolimit the root causes of stress. Crises at work, andin the home, are something that you can rely on, evenif can't always predict their timing.

Oddly enough, taking an hour out of each day to go tothe gym, or aerobics, is one of the most effectivestrategies that anyone can implement in trying tocombat stress. With an already crammed schedule, theidea of finding even more time may seem like the finalstraw, but the very act of breaking the routine, anddoing something that's completely different, allowsboth your body, and just as importantly, your mind, totake stock. The direct physical benefits can also begreat, as exercise increases the alpha-waves that thebody associates with relaxation. Exercise also helpsto condition us physically and mentally, allowing usto deal better with stress. There are also a wide-range of alternative ways dealwith stress. As simple as it sounds, deep breathingcan be an effective means of achieving inner calm.And, you don't have to be a contortionist to takeadvantage of the principles of meditation. In itssimplest form, just listening to music and windingdown can be a positive way to relax. Complementarymedicines may still shrouded in doubt, but one or twocomplementary therapies have gained mainstreamacceptance. The stress-reducing benefits ofAromatherapy massage are widely accepted, and IndianHead massage is rapidly becoming an office-basedtreatment, as many employers begin to realise theimplications of stress.

Stress is a vital part of everyone's life, and italways will be. Recognise the sources of your stress,and a few simple strategies can help make your lifework for you, rather than against you. Stress needn'tbe a negative, it can be a driving force, but it needsto be channelled.