Don’t just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.
There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.
"Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die. ……………….
One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? …………….
It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices..... ...." :)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tips to avoid stress
These are some tips that should help:
Some individuals may not be able to handle stress effectively and may react negatively to a situation or indulge in self destructive behaviour. Some of these coping mechanisms include subconscious defences, like escapism and denial of the problem.
Some of the negative ways of dealing with stress may include:
Organise your home and workplace. Avoid backlog, pay bills on time, etc.
Time management in necessary. Prioritise and then create a schedule so that you devote time to all the important activities. Plan your day the night before.
Learn to say 'no' to unnecessary activities and irrelevant tasks. Decide who and what is important in your life. Do not try to please everyone. Going out of your way on a regular basis, allows people to take you for granted and impinges on your time as well.
Enjoy life:
For example, your diary says that you get angry often because your spouse expects you to take care of the children while he watches TV. Your response to that is to sulk, scream at the kids and grumble, but do the task all the same. The result -- unhappy you, insecure children and marital discord.
You could ask yourself this question -- how can I change my response to get the result I want, which is a loving relationship with my spouse, children and time to myself. The choices: talk to your spouse, get yourself a babysitter or dump that job and stay home so you have more time to yourself.
Once you have identified the source of stress and your unhealthy response to it, you can switch to a more positive way to deal with it.
Some quick stress-relief tips?
- Don't take yourself too seriously. Make plans, but do not get too upset if they do not work
- Plan ahead of time. Study in advance for exams rather than the night before or leave home early in anticipation of traffic jams
- Avoid unpleasant situations and people whenever possible
- Be flexible. Switch to Plan B. Learn to let go
- Don't be too hard on yourself. Forgive yourself, indulge in hobbies, pamper yourself
- Act. If your job is too stressful, sort out matters with your boss or look for a new one. If your partner is having an affair, get yourself a marriage counsellor or apply for a divorce
- Don't be judgemental. Accept others with their faults and limitations
- Surround yourself with people you love
- Laugh, listen to music, take frequent breaks, sleep well and exercise regularly
- Do what you love, love what you do
- Avoid the stressor
- Adapt to the stressor
- Accept the stressor
- Alter the stressor
Some individuals may not be able to handle stress effectively and may react negatively to a situation or indulge in self destructive behaviour. Some of these coping mechanisms include subconscious defences, like escapism and denial of the problem.
Some of the negative ways of dealing with stress may include:
- Withdrawal from family and friends/sulking
- Procrastination (putting off tasks)
- Binging or anorexia
- Emotional outbursts
- Venting anger on others
- Eating junk food
- Watching TV for hours
- Smoking
- Alcoholism
- Drug abuse
- Internet or computer addiction
Organise your home and workplace. Avoid backlog, pay bills on time, etc.
Time management in necessary. Prioritise and then create a schedule so that you devote time to all the important activities. Plan your day the night before.
Learn to say 'no' to unnecessary activities and irrelevant tasks. Decide who and what is important in your life. Do not try to please everyone. Going out of your way on a regular basis, allows people to take you for granted and impinges on your time as well.
Enjoy life:
- Indulge in hobbies on a regular basis
- Find 'me' time every day
- Be around friends and family who are positive, who love you and whom you love
- Laugh a lot
- Get a massage
- Meditate daily
- Manage anger by using deep breathing techniques, practising healthy behaviour (speak slowly, stop to think, practise letting go)
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat right, sleep well and exercise regularly.
For example, your diary says that you get angry often because your spouse expects you to take care of the children while he watches TV. Your response to that is to sulk, scream at the kids and grumble, but do the task all the same. The result -- unhappy you, insecure children and marital discord.
You could ask yourself this question -- how can I change my response to get the result I want, which is a loving relationship with my spouse, children and time to myself. The choices: talk to your spouse, get yourself a babysitter or dump that job and stay home so you have more time to yourself.
Once you have identified the source of stress and your unhealthy response to it, you can switch to a more positive way to deal with it.
Some quick stress-relief tips?
- Breathe slowly and deeply
- Listen to soothing music
- Go outdoors for a break
- Count from 1 to 100
- Close your eyes and picturise yourself in a pleasant situation or think of lovely colours, flowers, images, etc.
- Pray or meditate
- Call up or meet a friend
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