In this fast paced life stress has become a very common aspect of everyone’s life. In a lifestyle where the number of things to do outruns the minutes and hours on the clock, stress is bound to happen. Simply put, stress occurs when an individual cannot cope up with the external enviournement’s demands due to non-availability of internal resources. But stress isn’t all that bad. In fact Psychologists say that in order to perform a task well, there needs to be an optimum level of stress to drive and motivate us.
The job profile of the Armed Forces personnel is such that stress is a very common thing to happen. When uncertain, unpredictable stressful situations arise and quick, efficient decisions need to be made managing stress becomes very important. So many organizations have adopted various strategies to manage and lower stress of their employees. From the point of view of the Armed Forces, it’s important that the Officer maintain his/her cool and calm because his/her behaviour will have an effect on the troops and stress impairs the ability of a person to perform efficiently.
Therefore, I’m mentioning some of the tips and ways that can be used to manage and combat stress:
- Meditate.
Meditation and yoga help in focusing, becoming more relaxed and bringing down the stress levels of a person. This also helps a person in seeing things with a new and fresh perspective. Meditating also provides immediate benefits. - Prioritize.
There could be a lot of things going on in a person’s life on the work front or the personal front. Stress in such situations occurs when a person fails to maintain a balance. So, prioritise your work. Do those things first that require immediate action and keep those things for later which can wait. - Use a pencil.
When you make a to-do list, its advised that you work with a pencil instead of a pen. You need to keep yourself flexible and you need to understand that things change, so use a pencil to make minor changes if required. Don’t become rigid. - Cooperate.
There might be some tasks that need to be done as a team instead of carrying it out individually. Understand that everyone’s working style is different and that you need to cooperate and collaborate with others while working in a group. - Avoid negative people.
Your social circle has a lot of impact on your psychological wellbeing and being surrounded by negative people and negative conversations won’t do much good to you. Maintain distance with negative people and tell your mind not to dwell on that negativity.
- Don’t keep too many things on your plate.
It’s understood that in this fast moving lifestyle multitasking has become quite inevitable but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to multitask. Take a time out and give yourself a break from all the multitasking. - Exercise.
The research keeps growing — exercise benefits your mind just as well as your body. We keep hearing about the long-term benefits of a regular exercise routine. But even a 20-minute walk, run, swim or dance session in the midst of a stressful time can give an immediate effect that can last for several hours. (American Psychological Association) - Sleep.
Stress affects sleep and vice versa. Everything falls apart when one doesn’t get enough sleep. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine compared patients with insomnia to those without sleep disruptions and found that the insomniacs with the most severe sleep disturbances secreted the highest amount of cortisol (hormone which is secreted when we are stressed). - Laugh!
Ever saw uncles and aunties standing in a circle in a park? Well you might want to join them. Laughing and being happy has a great impact on lowering the stress levels. Laughs or smiles can help relieve some of the tension and improve the situation.
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Everyone has some or the other stressor in their life due which they become stressed but that’s shouldn’t cause a hindrance in the general functioning of an individual. Remember that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going!
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