Is stress a big deal for you? I’d be surprised if it isn’t in this crazy busy world we live in. Need to apply the Brakes and take a Break? Here’s a tool from my good friend and health education specialist Richard A. Detert Ph.D. author of Break Time: A Personal Guide to Reduce Your Daily Stress who granted permission to share.
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Most of my stress is at work. I try to mentally prepare myself before going in. Sometimes prayer, sometimes just an affirmation, sometimes I just take a deep breath and dive in. When I tell myself..."I will remain calm and focused no matter what happens on my shift tonight"...I inevitably fail at some point. But I recognize that I did. The problem is that there is no time to do these exercises while in the midst of it all at work. Once in awhile I steel away 2 minutes in the bathroom to deep breathe. Not sure what else to do????
Carol Ebert, MSN, RN
36 Articles; 207 Posts
Is stress a big deal for you? Of course it is! I'd be surprised if it isn't in this crazy busy world we live in. Need to apply the Brakes and take a Break? Here's a tool from my good friend and health education specialist Richard A. Detert Ph.D. author of Break Time: A Personal Guide to Reduce Your Daily Stress who granted permission to share.
BreakTime Awareness Questions
Directions: Respond as honestly as you can to each of the following items.
There are lots of strategies to support your efforts in managing the crazy busy lifestyle you are experiencing. But not all work for all people. I remember teaching nurses a stress management technique that focused on deep breathing, and even though most felt the benefit of relaxation, there were a few that hated it. They couldn't remain in a calm state and got restless. They might be more of a candidate for running off their stress than mellowing out.
It is important to do some experimenting with stress management techniques to find the ones that get the results you desire. For instance, I use Jazzercise as a stress management tool, even though it is classified as a physical workout. But for me, it reduces my stress level by allowing me to burn off pent-up energy. But I can also benefit from calming activities as well.
Here are some Tension-Time-Outs, and of course there are many more to help you reduce stress.
Several of these ideas are actually over-looked when it comes to reducing stress. Especially the new information on tapping into your unique strengths. Yes, when you identify the brilliance of you, those characteristics can help you out once you give them credit due. So when you read them, appreciate the power they would have to help you tame that stress tiger within you. Check the ones you would like to explore and commit to making that happen by adding to your daily to-do list.
Use one of your unique strengths in a new way. Here are some examples of strengths
Check out this link for more on strengths.1 New Strategies for Stress Management | Psychology Today
So what do you think? Are you ready to put one or two strategies in place?
Please share the Tension-Time-Outs you use and the benefits you receive.