Dr. Monica Narang
Stress is a natural human response to pressure when faced with challenging and sometimes dangerous situations. If stress lasts a long time or overwhelms our ability to cope, it can have a negative effect on our health, wellbeing, relationships, work and day to day life.
Here are some tips to relieve stress
Do one thing at a time
Multi tasking might work for computers, but humans have yet to work on it. If you are doing one work, do it mindfully, complete it and then move to next thing.
Doing Exercise
Exercise is one of the most important thing to combat stress. Body can fight stress better when it is fit. People who exercise regularly experience less anxiety than those who don’t exercise.
Throw out something everyday
If you have gathered much stuff in your house or office, it is the clutter that’s bothering and frustrating. Get rid of this stuff and dispose off unnecessary items. Make place for new things.
Stay away from negative people
Negative people squeeze energies and darken your outlook. Protect yourself from these people and do not enter into any controversy with them.
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders
There is enough crime, starvation, injustice and evil. Do the possible help, but don’t involve so much that you ignore family and other duties.
Don’t over volunteer
Resist volunteering for more than you can handle or more than your free time allows. Volunteering is great, but heavy involvement can steal important time from your family and relationships.
Management of time
Learn to manage your time effectively and try to finish work properly on time.
Don’t expect gratitude
Accept that a lot of good efforts by you will go unacknowledged. Do good because it pleases you.
Channel your anger into productive energy
Anger is like steam and can build to the point of bursting. Release your anger in positive ways. Release your anger into rational and composed ways to deal with the problem that caused it
Don’t answer your morning emails right away
Read them, but don’t answer them unless there is an immediate need. Save your time for important & emergent tasks. Respond when you need a break.
Don’t rely on litigation
Who amongst us does not at least once a day sue another person in the court room of mind. In case of disputes, avoid litigation and settle matter with peaceful methods like negotiations and compromises. The lengthy , cumbersome and expensive procedure of court will give only frustration.
Take out time for gardening
Spend some time for maintaining garden and create something of beauty and value. It involves physical exertion which is an outlet for stress and also fosters nurturing, caring and growth.
Meditation for stress relief
Meditation is simple and fast way to reduce stress. It will restore your calm and Peace. It will wipe away the day’s stress.
Listening to music
The soothing power of music is well established. Listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies especially slow, quiet and classical music.
Make sleep a priority
Without getting proper rest and sleep, it becomes difficult to retain information. You remain lazy the whole day. 7-9 hours sleep every night is optimal.
Spending time with friends and family
Spend maximum quality time with family and friends. Talk to them and share your feelings. This will energize you and you will love your life.
Time management
Mastering time management will help to maintain a healthy work -life balance.
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. If stress is left unchecked , it can lead to many health problems like high blood pressure, heart diseases, obesity and diabetes. -All these steps will help to combat stress and reduce anxiety, pain and depression.
(The author is Sr Assistt Prof. The Law School , University of Jammu.)
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