STRESS-BUSTING

From Sampath’s Desk:

 

STRESS-BUSTING

 

If the pace of life menacingly bullies and the situation goes out of control, one tends to go slow, wavered, irritant, sluggish and panic - typical symptoms of stress. Stress can also be characterized as a physical and/or psychological response when one perceives an unfolding situation or a given task or an imminent event likely to be confronted as uncomfortable, daunting, precarious, too demanding and/or demoralizing. However, there are ways and means to overcome stress. Use them. Broadly they can be categorized as ‘Disassociation Techniques’, ‘Relax Techniques’, ‘Action Techniques’ and ‘Adopt Right Psychology techniques’.

 

Disassociation Techniques:

 

Same/monotonous work may cause boredom. Example - Take your eyes off the computer for a while when working on it, as often as you can, to get the eyes de-stressed. While at a daunting job, completely disassociate from it for a short time so as to continue it a little later with recouped/refreshed energy and renewed concentration. A lull or hiatus readies one gear up well for a better performance!

 

Relax Techniques:

 

Take deep breath as frequently as possible. Have pleasant feelings, thoughts and memories capable of calming your mind.

 

Any type of mind-pleasing music is a peace-maker. Singing tones up body and mind, individually or part of a group! Group singing uplifts the spirit and soul, increases energy levels, and helps find inner peace.

 

Consider a simple example in a lighter vein. A person can walk singing merrily without being taken undue notice of by on-lookers. But can a person talk as he walks along (hands-free mobile talks excepted)? Will it not send wrong signals to others?  

 

Listening to low volume music any time - specifically at night time - gives peace, quietude and a real pep to the mind after one has returned from work. Unlike the hassle-laden TV viewing which requires continued attention and concentration where you have to necessarily keep your eyes glued to the set with all resultant discomforts, we can enjoy listening to radio while at work or rest. In short, a radio is a good companion.

 

Clapping is a proven stress-buster for an individual or a group of individuals. It is claimed by the medical world that clapping increases the elasticity of the blood vessels and veins and decongests them improving blood circulation. Group clapping for a song, apart from offering a choral musical fling for the group members and spectators alike to enjoy, also gives an absorbing session of entertainment making you forget worries and feel free. Count numbers with eyes closed simultaneously visualizing the figures in the inner-mind.  You can also visualize a natural setting pleasant to your mind. Again, laughter can slaughter stress.

 

Other useful tips are:

 

Ø   Play/interact with tiny tots/children for a while and/or watch     them play/interact

Ø       Nature/Sky-gazing

Ø      Meditation and Yoga

Ø       Laughter can slaughter worries. 

Ø      A short nap can help recover from a disturbed state of mind.

Ø Watch the beautiful moving fishes (of different sizes, colours, designs and   shapes) in an aquarium. 

Ø     Watch as long as you can the flame of a burning candle or oil lamp undisturbed.

Ø   Visit to places of worship with a plunge into deep spirituality and with intense faith in God if you have the propensity to do so to find inner peace.

Ø Take to good books that may offer interesting reading and inspiration.

Ø  Develop a sense of humour at home and workplace.

 

Action Techniques:

 

Time management is part of stress management. To be always well ahead of time schedule keeps one comfortable avoiding the hurly-burly, mad-run, rat-race and resultant tension and stress.

 

Don’t shortchange your abilities by underestimating your true potentials. Zeal is a live volcano at the peak of which sloth never thrives. Even whilst at a daunting task, do it enjoying the job and with self-satisfaction, which will steam off the heat, uplift your spirit and heighten self-confidence levels. A right philosophy is, 'even a problem is an opportunity and experience to learn from'.

 

Avoid brooding – for, past is gone and future is uncertain. So, live in the present (gift of God). You can peek into pleasant past experiences – recollect school/college days – teachers/friends by their names – events, happenings and settings that would kindle your nostalgia – the ones you would always like to cherish in memory such as success streaks, laurels earned, good things happened to you and the near and dear ones, and whatever done by you for self-satisfaction and for the sake and in service of others to make them happy. In a way, chew the cud of your good nostalgic past.

 

Service to others with dedication redoubles your joy. Sincerely enjoy others enjoying. Experience the happiness by making others happy. For, the real happiness comes running when you give and share things with others and serve them. True happiness and joy is not a commodity to buy or demand, but can only be felt and found in the inner-self. In fact, happiness is a state of mind. Pursue any activity which is interesting and pleasantly exciting to you and get absorbed into it.

 

Regular walking and/or jogging would stand you in good stead, both physically and mentally. Other useful activities are physical/skill/mind games. Time spent on gardening and with your pets would keep you in a fine mettle.

 

Right Psychology Techniques:

 

Positive thinking and productive action are like two sides of the same coin. Sometimes, even a consciously well considered judgment and decision may go wrong and may not yield the desired result. Never mind, it is part of life-game. Adopt a right philosophy thus, ‘this is a slip – let us be perfect next time’.  And from the next time onwards, try to be smarter, give error-free best performance and keep the vow. More than past successes, past mistakes offer good lessons to learn from and make the present pleasant.

 

Obviously you cannot change the past and put the clock back. However, you can ruin a perfectly good present by unduly worrying about the future. Don’t waste too much of time on delving deep into introspection of your failures or bad events. It is better to take care and caution rather than panic at a difficult situation and/or unfolding crisis.

 

Give vent to your feelings and confide worries to your confidants. That will cool off the heat of pressure in you and may possibly get you solace and even solution(s). Come on, let us try and get over the monster of stress and tension by adopting suitable techniques!

 

R.SAMPATH

4/9/2011