Stress affects us all at some points in our lives. It can come from many different areas, finance, relationships, work, studying and a variety of other forms. At certain times, pressure can build up and stress can be difficult to deal with.For young academics, the effects of stress can be felt from a tender age. Pressure to do well in exams, GCSE's and A Levels to gain a place at a good university can have a serious impact on the health of students. The fear of being a failure can override rational thoughts and lead to unhealthy behavior and bad coping mechanisms.Whilst studying in school and sixth form the main causes of stress are coping with work load, worry about university entry and anxieties branching from relationships with friends, family and girlfriends or boyfriends.
The survey found that four out of ten college students report they feel stressed often. One out of five say they feel stressed most of the time. One out of four students experienced daily stress and one in ten had thoughts of suicide (2008). That is why today I would like to inform you what I believe to be three of the main stressors that everyone goes through. This would include financial problems, workplace stress, and personal relationships. Then, I would also like to take you through five steps that I have found useful in coping with stress.
For students living in expensive cities like London, who don't receive financial help from their families, part-time work is the only option to keep their heads above water. The problems that arise from this burden can have a domino effect. Having to juggle the responsibility of a job, stay committed to a degree, have a healthy social life and find time to rest can add to the original source of stress.Everyone has different levels of stress tolerability. It is linked to your personality, diet, emotional maturity and up-bringing. We have different methods of dealing with stress too. Some one who is more prone to stress and anxiety may have more trouble dealing with it. It is common to try to avoid the source of the problem and use something else to mask it.
There are a number of ways that can help you manage your stress levels. Relaxation techniques taught in disciplines such as yoga and meditation are very effective. They give you valuable 'time out' to slow down and just 'be' for a while. Remember we are human 'beings' and not human 'doings'. If a person does not wish to become involved in these disciplines, then they can at least learn simple breathing exercises, such as taking long slow breaths in through the nose, and out through the mouth. Doing this slowly whilst counting the breaths until 50 or 100 is an excellent quick relaxation tool that you can do practically anywhere.
Furthermore, there is the stress of personal relationships. We may receive attitudes from our relatives. Have arguments with our kids or spouses. There could be possible illness to deal with in the family, or a major change of location could have happened. These all bring on a great deal of stress in our lives. Without knowing how to cope with all these stressors they could really exhaust a person.Therefore, I would like to introduce an acronym I use to remember five steps in coping with stress. The acronym is R-E-L-A-X. It stands for Recognize, Exercise, Let-it-go, Attitude, and Xtra sleep. Let's go over each letter one by one.
The workplace is arguably the primary source of stress for most working people. From beating deadlines to dealing with co-workers, stress is part of the normal daily routines on the job. The intensity of stress varies depending on the type of work. Some jobs are innately more stressful than others, especially those that involve danger to life such as combat-related duties.
Stress factors, job specifications and situations may vary but stress is fundamentally an instinctive physiological and psychological reaction. Stress is based on the "fight-or-flight" instinct reaction to danger or perceived danger. However, even without actual danger stress reactions still occur and usually lead to health-related problems if not properly managed.
The fourth letter is "A". "A" stand for Attitude. When you talk about school or work do you often talk about how you will fail, or how you can't do it, or how it is too hard? Well, that is just being pessimistic and clearly having a poor attitude. You then need to step back, evaluate yourself, and adjust your attitude. According to Psychology Today, "Optimism is an admirable quality, one that can positively affect mental and physical health."
Now, the fifth letter is "X". "X" will stand for Xtra sleep. Everyone needs proper sleep for energy. Are you not getting enough sleep? Are you staying out all night? Or are you staying up late? Then you need extra sleep. The best way to get the sleep you need is to have a schedule and stick with it. Go to bed at a decent time. When you develop a routine you will notice you have plenty of time during the day to do things. In the end you will be less frustrated when you get the sleep you needed.On the other hand, not all stress is bad. What I have been referring to is bad stress or what is called distress. But, there is such a thing as good stress. Good stress is stress that comes from excitement or adrenalin and can be very beneficial.
Relaxation - When the situation becomes too stressful, simple deep breath exercise can help. It can increase blood oxidation and improve circulation. Relaxation techniques do not need to be expensive or complicated. Finding a quiet place at the office where one can collect composure, for instance, can help in relaxation. Listening to soft music may also provide some relief.Efficiency - Being organized and highly efficient at work can help employees coping with stress simply because the piling up of tasks will be avoided. Accomplishing the required tasks will also provide some sense of accomplishment. Efficiency at work can be achieved by eliminating procrastinations and by having well-defined daily plans.Social skills - People who are friendly and easy to like are less likely to experience stress due to uncooperative and rude co-workers, including bosses. Developing good social skills can also help employees move up in the corporate ladder and be given leadership responsibilities. Social skills are oftentimes more valuable than technical skills especially when it comes to large organizations.
The survey found that four out of ten college students report they feel stressed often. One out of five say they feel stressed most of the time. One out of four students experienced daily stress and one in ten had thoughts of suicide (2008). That is why today I would like to inform you what I believe to be three of the main stressors that everyone goes through. This would include financial problems, workplace stress, and personal relationships. Then, I would also like to take you through five steps that I have found useful in coping with stress.
For students living in expensive cities like London, who don't receive financial help from their families, part-time work is the only option to keep their heads above water. The problems that arise from this burden can have a domino effect. Having to juggle the responsibility of a job, stay committed to a degree, have a healthy social life and find time to rest can add to the original source of stress.Everyone has different levels of stress tolerability. It is linked to your personality, diet, emotional maturity and up-bringing. We have different methods of dealing with stress too. Some one who is more prone to stress and anxiety may have more trouble dealing with it. It is common to try to avoid the source of the problem and use something else to mask it.
There are a number of ways that can help you manage your stress levels. Relaxation techniques taught in disciplines such as yoga and meditation are very effective. They give you valuable 'time out' to slow down and just 'be' for a while. Remember we are human 'beings' and not human 'doings'. If a person does not wish to become involved in these disciplines, then they can at least learn simple breathing exercises, such as taking long slow breaths in through the nose, and out through the mouth. Doing this slowly whilst counting the breaths until 50 or 100 is an excellent quick relaxation tool that you can do practically anywhere.
Furthermore, there is the stress of personal relationships. We may receive attitudes from our relatives. Have arguments with our kids or spouses. There could be possible illness to deal with in the family, or a major change of location could have happened. These all bring on a great deal of stress in our lives. Without knowing how to cope with all these stressors they could really exhaust a person.Therefore, I would like to introduce an acronym I use to remember five steps in coping with stress. The acronym is R-E-L-A-X. It stands for Recognize, Exercise, Let-it-go, Attitude, and Xtra sleep. Let's go over each letter one by one.
The workplace is arguably the primary source of stress for most working people. From beating deadlines to dealing with co-workers, stress is part of the normal daily routines on the job. The intensity of stress varies depending on the type of work. Some jobs are innately more stressful than others, especially those that involve danger to life such as combat-related duties.
Stress factors, job specifications and situations may vary but stress is fundamentally an instinctive physiological and psychological reaction. Stress is based on the "fight-or-flight" instinct reaction to danger or perceived danger. However, even without actual danger stress reactions still occur and usually lead to health-related problems if not properly managed.
The fourth letter is "A". "A" stand for Attitude. When you talk about school or work do you often talk about how you will fail, or how you can't do it, or how it is too hard? Well, that is just being pessimistic and clearly having a poor attitude. You then need to step back, evaluate yourself, and adjust your attitude. According to Psychology Today, "Optimism is an admirable quality, one that can positively affect mental and physical health."
Now, the fifth letter is "X". "X" will stand for Xtra sleep. Everyone needs proper sleep for energy. Are you not getting enough sleep? Are you staying out all night? Or are you staying up late? Then you need extra sleep. The best way to get the sleep you need is to have a schedule and stick with it. Go to bed at a decent time. When you develop a routine you will notice you have plenty of time during the day to do things. In the end you will be less frustrated when you get the sleep you needed.On the other hand, not all stress is bad. What I have been referring to is bad stress or what is called distress. But, there is such a thing as good stress. Good stress is stress that comes from excitement or adrenalin and can be very beneficial.
Relaxation - When the situation becomes too stressful, simple deep breath exercise can help. It can increase blood oxidation and improve circulation. Relaxation techniques do not need to be expensive or complicated. Finding a quiet place at the office where one can collect composure, for instance, can help in relaxation. Listening to soft music may also provide some relief.Efficiency - Being organized and highly efficient at work can help employees coping with stress simply because the piling up of tasks will be avoided. Accomplishing the required tasks will also provide some sense of accomplishment. Efficiency at work can be achieved by eliminating procrastinations and by having well-defined daily plans.Social skills - People who are friendly and easy to like are less likely to experience stress due to uncooperative and rude co-workers, including bosses. Developing good social skills can also help employees move up in the corporate ladder and be given leadership responsibilities. Social skills are oftentimes more valuable than technical skills especially when it comes to large organizations.
No comments:
Post a Comment