According to a report that I was reading recently, one in every three adults suffers from moderate to high levels of personal stress. With so much bad news in the papers and on television, uncertainty about the economy and the pressure of daily life, is it any wonder more of us are feeling stressed.
- Every year nearly something close to 50,000 Australians are admitted to hospital due to stress-related disorders.
- Stress requires more people to take time off work than any other health condition or disease.
- The total cost of Australian workplace stress is more than $1.2 billion per year.
Most of us experience some level of stress in our lives, especially from our work. The stress of urgent deadlines, demanding clients, meetings, families and bills all add to stress levels There doesn't seem to be any end to the modern day disease of personal stress. So, what can you do to overcome stress?
Simple strategies for reducing your stress
1.0 Take a 3 minute holiday
Learn to 'chill' for a few minutes when you're feeling under pressure. Find somewhere quite to sit, close your eyes and just relax. It sounds like a simplistic idea, but it does work!
2. Drink plenty of water
Your body is 80% water - so keeping it hydrated is essential. You'll notice that when you haven't been drinking enough water your attention starts to wander. Keep a drink bottle on your desk and drink at least a litre of water every day, more if you are exercising.
3. Take a lunch break
Getting away from your desk for thirty minutes can reduce your levels of stress and change your outlook. Don't say that you don't have time for lunch; that is a cop-out!
4. Get up every 50 minutes and stretch
It can be so easy to get caught up in what you're doing that all of a sudden you've been at work for 3 hours and the only muscles you've moved are in your fingers. Stretching will get the blood flowing around your body again - you'll feel invigorated, awake and your quality of work will noticeably improve.
5. Relax your eyes (and wrists)
Constantly staring at a computer screen will give you eye strain. Every 15 minutes or so look away from the screen, or close your eyes briefly.
Allow your eyes to have a power nap. While you're doing this, face your palms away from you, grab your fingers and pull them back towards you very gently. This is a great stretch for your wrists and will help to battle carpel tunnel syndrome and other conditions caused by the overuse of your wrists.
6. Breath slowly and deeply
If you're feeling tired, grumpy or frustrated it could simply be that you're not getting enough oxygen to your brain. Most people don't breathe correctly. A few times a day (perhaps when you're having your 3 minute holiday or getting up to stretch), take the time to breath deeply and slowly in through your nose, into your diaphragm (the lower part of your abdomen) and then out through your mouth. Each breath should take you about 6 seconds. Breath in, hold for a second or two and then let it out.
Paul Puckridge awakens managers and employees to the need that they must develop their 'worksmarts' so they can get to the next level at work and future-proof their careers.
Paul is an author, teacher and speaker on leadership, innovation and worksmarts. He is the Training Director of The Success Institute - Australia and ovwe 15 years has written over 30 professional development programs, 10 books and a host of other professional development materials.
To receive regular articles, downloads and templates, or get a FREE copy of Paul's 'How to Develop Your Worksmarts' simply sign-up at http://www.paulpuckridge.com
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