TIPS FOR REDUCING UNNECESSARY STRESS
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Stress is often the anxiety we crate by our own conflict, fears and ambivalence. Through the experience gained from the many years of conducting stress management workshops and seminars, I have found that people often create unnecessary stress by their own ideas and expectations since much of what we refer to as stress is really self-created anxiety. Here are a few tips to bring fun and excitement back into your life. 1. Clarify your ethics Think about what you believe and make your own determinations as to what is "right" and "wrong" behavior. To have integrity and peace of mind, behave according to your values. 2. Set Realistic Job Priorities Don't expect more of yourself than is reasonable to accomplish in any given time period. In the long run, frantic rushing to get the job done leads to mistakes and loss of time. Set priorities and/or have your boss set priorities with you. Make lists and put aside those things that are not urgent. Play catch up on days when you feel like tackling all the little nuisance problems. Learn how to avoid interruptions - if you have a deadline to meet, you don't have to answer the phone. 3. Treat People with Kindness If you don't try to build your own self esteem by criticizing others, you will soon discover that you are no longer worried about what they might think of yo8u. So, stop gossiping, don't be nasty, and don't look to fault find. If your view of others is more benevolent, your projection of their view of you will be the same. 4. Stop taking offense at unimportant words. Words are just words and they mean different things to different people. To take offense at a word that was not meant to offend is to do yourself both physical and psychological harm. And, if it was meant to offend - read between the lines to determine what r3ally was intended. Finally, consider the source. 5. Assume Good will It is truly rate to discover someone deliberately setting out to hurt someone else. Most hurts are unintentional. People are often accidentally forgetful or inconsiderate. Don't look over your shoulder for imagined slights. If someone is really out to harm you, you'll know it clearly enough and then you can take appropriate action. 6. Perfection vs. Excellence Perfectionism is really a state of high anxiety. It is constantly worrying about making a mistake or ridiculing yourself. Striving for excellence is both fun and exciting. It's focusing on the job and doesn't require unnecessary worry. Reprinted from: The Wise Old Owl's Workplace Wanderings, Dr. Diamond's newsletter. |