Schumann Festival

Do you work with a tornado? You know the kind of person who always seems surrounded by drama in their personal and professional lives?  Any attempt by their colleagues to get them to change their ways falls on deaf ears.  Can you see them heading for burnout in a couple of year’s time? 

Research from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales found that 45 per cent of people questioned say they have suffered from stress, citing unattainable targets, poor management and bad work-life balance as the causes.  Employees claim their work stress levels also affecting their home life, with half saying it impacted on their health and 41 per cent reporting it was detrimental to their social life.  The expert highlights those in the financial sector as being renowned for being stressed.

Therefore employers have a duty of care to protect their staff.  Staff who perform well become an asset not a burden. 

Believe it or not some people actually love a crisis.  In fact when things get too predictable they get bored!  But how do you tackle someone who thrives under stress, but for whom this habit is beginning to damage their health and effectiveness? 

 Here are 10 Top Tips on how to recognise and cope with stress

Performance management and stress could be discussed at an annual Appraisal.  An employee may not realise the impact stress could have on their performance.  If their needs lie at the heart of their behaviour, this may subconsciously drive their choices and decisions.  These needs may include a need to be in control, a need to be liked or a strong need for perfection, all of which could create scenarios with stressful outcomes.  Offer them one2One coaching or mentoring support, this will help them identify what behaviour or habits they need to change and what new approaches they can adopt.  This could then be progressed through an action plan, reviewed periodically.  A Personal Coach or Mentor will hold them accountable to take some action. Recommend that they have a health check with their GP, and to start taking responsibility for their own stress management.  Stress related illnesses are avoidable, and therefore a complete lifestyle assessment would be beneficial with the emphasis on reducing alcohol intake, eating a sensible diet, and avoidance of junk food. Encourage them to delegate, prioritise and become personally more organised, e.g. by using a task list, setting realistic deadlines, proper diary and time management Provide some opportunities for them to do some strategic planning and to allocate time for this in their schedule Encourage them to learn some relaxation techniques, e.g. by taking up a relaxing hobby like fishing or Tai Chi.  These will have a beneficial effect on their health by reducing stress hormones, lowering blood pressure, creating a happier state of mind leading to better sleep, more energy and resilience to stress. Provide options for them to look into their own work-life balance, i.e. by not taking work home/on holiday and using technology to make this easier for them with remote working for instance Discuss setting realistic goals and not to over commit themselves Introduce some coaching techniques to help them pause and  reflect on the consequences of their behaviour.  They should be encouraged to adopt new ways of handling stressful situations, handling themselves in a crisis, and conflict management – perhaps by attending workshops focussed on emotional intelligence. Help them to identify the warning signs of stress, i.e. binge eating or drinking, poor sleep patterns, aggressive behaviour, or stress related illnesses, e.g. migraine, eczema, IBS. The overall recommendation being that sensible stress management is a long term solution, which although it requires commitment provides a viable solution much more effective than the short-term solution, i.e. going sick and being put on medication.

Setting realistic expectations and identifying if your staff are under stress will save money and improve staff retention and morale in the longer term.  

Stress can be caused by almost anything around us, traffic, job, lack of money, family and the list goes on. Some can handle stress well and remain calm while others need to release it to start functioning well again. For both cases, it is important to face that you are undergoing a stressful situation and come up with an immediate plan to resolve it. Simply ignoring it will not make it go away, rather it can haunt you in the future. There are medical studies that proves that psychological stress can add up to the immune-related disease that can make you very sick.

1. Know your problem. The first step is knowing your enemy and acknowledge that you are undergoing a

fight over stress. Then you need to determine the type of stress that you are dealing with. There are two basic types, long term and acute stress. A long term stress is the stress that you endure daily, everything that you encounter in your life can add up to this. On the otherhand, acute stress is caused by more specific events like a recent fight with your mother or an accident. Both type of stress can affect your health in the long run so you need to determine the root of this worries and find specific means to eliminate it.

2. Find ways to eliminate the root of your stress. After accepting that you have a problem you should further evaluate yourself and what causes these stress. Is it family related? Is it about your Job? A debt problem perhaps. After determining the root of your stress, think of ways how you can eliminate this to change the situation. Fix that family problem, get a new job or hold a garage sale. There’s always a solution to any problem, the key is to not give up until you find that solution

3. Take time to smell the roses. Living in a fast paced routine can build up stress that is more than you can handle. It wouldnt hurt to take things slow and take control of your life as well as the situations that you’re getting into. There’s no need to rush so take your time and live a little. Learn to be carefree once in a while so that you can appreciate what you have right now instead of always running for what you want.

4. Set aside a “me” time. Add a “me” time in your daily routine wherein for few minutes you forget everything that you worry about. Reflect on how have you changed throughout the years, what goals have

you accomplished so far and what will you do today, next month or this year to further achieve your other

goals.

5. Satisfy your adventurous bone. Do different things once in a while since a daily routine can make you

feel bored. move out of your circle and try new things that can spice up your live.

People will always encounter stressful situation that can make life harder but in a way spice up your daily routine. You should not ignore it rather face it and come up with a solution to eliminate the root of your stress because there’s so many things to do in life than be stressed.

For many, college is the first time that they’ve had the freedom to eat, or not eat, what they want, and they tend to take full advantage of their newfound independence. While nearly every cafeteria offers some sort of healthy fare, it’s easy to see how one could ditch the broccoli and head straight for the oh-so-tempting plate of curly cheese fries. Those, along with the chips, candy and soda that make their way into most late-night cram sessions, are the types of things that send the scales soaring.

And as if having greasy cheeseburgers and yummy ice cream at your fingertips 24-7 wasn’t enough, new students also have the deal with all of the lifestyle changes that go along with being away from the comforts and security of home. Since people often overeat when they feel stressed, homesick or tired, freshman can find themselves mindlessly munching when they’re not even hungry.

How can you avoid the weight gain?

1) Get Moving. As unfair as it may be, staying up all night with your organic chemistry book is not burning very many calories. To maintain your weight, your body has to burn as many calories as it takes in. So skip the elevator and head for the stairs on your way to tonight’s hot Spinning class.

2) Eat Breakfast. Eating may be the last thing on your mind as you drag your sleep-deprived behind to an 8am class, but eating breakfast is one of the best fat-busting weapons in your arsenal. People who skip breakfast tend to overeat later in the day, so grab some fruit and yogurt on your way out the door.

3) Count Your Drinks. It’s easy to watch what you eat, but do you watch what you drink? Hidden calories in beverages like soda, juice, smoothies and especially alcohol add up quickly yet don’t leave you feeling full. Consider your overall calorie intake (food + drinks) when deciding which beverage to gulp down.

4) Eat Regularly. Don’t let your hectic schedule lure you into skipping meals. If you go too long without eating, your body will feel deprived and you may overcompensate by eating too much at your next meal.

5) Think Twice. Before grabbing that cookie, ask yourself, “Am I really hungry, or am I just bored?” Just wanting something to do often leads to mindless snacking to occupy time when you aren’t even hungry. Grab your iPod and head to the track for a few laps instead of exercising your jaws in the evenings.

What if it’s too late?

In the words of George Eliot, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” In other words, what are you waiting for? The first step to losing the weight that you’ve already gained is to make up your mind to do things differently.

You don’t have to execute mind-blowing feats of starvation or take up permanent residence in the fitness center. You can simply decide to live by the More or Less PhilosophySM. Break unhealthy habits by purposefully doing more of some things and less of others – like walk across campus more often or drink one less soda each day. Integrate small behaviors like these into your everyday life and watch the pounds melt away. All of the lifestyle changes will add up over time and make a huge difference in the way you look and more importantly, in the way you feel.