Positive Energy - How Do You Deal With Stress?

December 2006

Dear Mark

We’re now counting down the days to Christmas. Whilst December conjures up images of parties, presents and frivolity, in reality Christmas can be one of the most stressful and tiring times of the year.

That’s why this month we’re going to be looking at ways of dealing with stress and keeping your energy levels up. By the time you’ve finished reading, I guarantee you’ll be feeling relaxed and looking forward to some fun over the festive season!

I’ve got plenty more hints and tips lined up to help you kick start the New Year, but until then, I’d like to wish you a very merry and stress-free Christmas!

If you’d like to get in touch, then click here to email me or call me on 01697 747 821.

Best wishes,

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

If we are honest, most of us would admit to finding life quite stressful - at least some of the time. Many of us struggle to balance our own needs with our responsibilities at home or at work. We put immense pressure on ourselves to excel at everything we do and keep up with our friends, families and colleagues.

Keeping your energy levels up and your worry and anxiety levels low is easier said than done. You can start to feel as if you are failing and that saps your self-confidence.

But I’ll let you into a secret - you have a choice. You can either view stressful situations as a major headache, or you can take a positive view and see them as part of your dynamic and varied life. You can choose to let your anxieties drain you, or you can choose to take on the challenge, building your confidence and boosting your energy levels on the way.

It’s time to take control and learn how to deal with stress. Once you can do this, you’ll increase your self-esteem and be able to cope with anything – even Christmas at your in-laws!

It’s no good waiting until you are ill or feeling absolutely exhausted. If you want to combat stress, then you need to be able to recognise the early warning signs and have a few tricks up your sleeve to help you sail through. Here are three steps to help you deal with stress:

Firstly notice and make a list of your stress symptoms. Do you drink more or eat more? Maybe you eat less or sleep less? Or perhaps you become irritable or get headaches? Maybe you feel a bit panicky sometimes or seem to have more niggly infections?
Next, choose a remedy to deal with your symptom. For example, if you recognise that your diet suffers when you are stressed, then plan your meals carefully and make a concerted effort to snack healthily and eat regularly. If your sleep is affected, then find routines to help you relax before bedtime and go to bed at the same time each night. If you can combat the symptom then you’re well on your way to restoring your energy levels and taking control.
Finally, breathe! Deep breaths can really help you deal with stressful situations. They’re also great for overcoming nerves. That’s because your body gains energy from oxygen. So, when you feel stressed or nervous, take a deep breath through your nose. Then hold for a slow count of two and gently exhale.

Follow these three steps and your body will soon start to relax and you’ll feel a lot calmer.

Dawn Yelland from Alsager narrowly missed a serious illness.

Dawn was a very busy person. She worked as a town planner during the day, had an evening job in a pub and was completing studies for a professional qualification. She sometimes felt a bit tired, but then in one month she had a cold that she couldn’t shift, followed by two migraines and a spot on her face that got infected and turned into an unsightly boil that required antibiotics. She thought that she was just unlucky, but her friends forced her to sit down and review her lifestyle. Her pressurised life was making her ill. She resolved to take proper lunch-breaks and defer her exams for a year. Within a few weeks she was feeling more in control, better about herself and more energised. She’d even found a yoga class to go to in her lunch breaks, which was really helping to revitalise her.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway - by Susan Jeffers. I have recommended this book before and I’m doing it again. Taking control of your life is one of the best ways to reduce stress.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity - by David Allen. If disorganisation contributes to your stress, then this book could help. It gives you a cast iron way of getting organised so you are left feeling safe and secure because all your loose ends have been tied up. It may take time to apply the structure to your life, but even doing 50% of what he suggests will make a huge difference!

Stress busting tips from the women’s health section of the BBC website. With a link to the Stress Professor!

Stress Busting. Loads of hints and tips - from how celebs cope with stress, to an A-Z of therapies.

Many of our programmes can give you greater energy and motivation to deal with the challenges that life throws at you. On the two Springboard programmes that we started this week the women left at the end of the first day really energised and looking forward to the future.

We will be offering a new development programme aimed at older workers starting in the spring next year. So if your boss treats you as if you are marking time or you need extra motivation because you won’t be able to retire as early as you had hoped, then this programme is for you. Contact us now to discuss how we can galvanise your older workers into action!

In next month’s issue we’ll be looking at the importance of the image you portray and the impression you give others.

Milecastle Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 01697 747 821 Email: sue.hewitt@milecastle.co.uk Website: www.milecastle.co.uk
Milecastle Consultancy Ltd, 1 Rose Cottages, Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 7AP