The six most common causes for stress in women are, according to Times online: perfectionism, men, money, family and friends, getting older, and your boss. Check out http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article6975492.ece for some light-hearted advice on how to deal with these.
Assuming you are celebrating Christmas, there is a lot you can do to reduce the stress involved. In fact, a healthy amount of stress will help you get ready for the big day.
Be organized. Make a budget if you need to. Make a shopping list for presents and cards and start shopping now. Plan the festive meal or book a table at a restaurant. Get help if you can.
Look after yourself. Allow yourself time out for relaxation and exercise. Keep a healthy diet, watch your alcohol consumption, and get sufficient sleep.
Make sure your children get some quiet time (NOT in front of the TV, computer or Xbox), and some fresh air each day. Spread the distribution of presents over the day (or several days).
Let go of perfectionism. Anticipate that something might go wrong or someone may say the wrong thing.
Don’t take things personally (especially when someone doesn’t like your present). Accept that everyone is different.
Communicate clearly. Don’t expect others to mind-read what you think or how you feel or what you want them to do.
Allow yourself to have fun. A pinch of humour usually comes handy, too.
Stressing the Positives: This is the motto of this year’s National Stress Awareness Day on Wednesday, 4 November. Yet, how do you stress the positives when things go wrong in your life?
· First of all, stay active: Get out of bed in the morning, groom yourself, and set yourself a task for the day.
· Take care of yourself: Eat healthily, exercise, and get a decent amount of sleep.
· Do something enjoyable each day.
· Set yourself small, achievable goals that will help you improve your situation and make a list of actions that will help you achieve these goals. These action lists should include a timeframe/deadline.
· Make a chart on a piece of paper, and write down on one side the disadvantages and problems of your situation and on the other side the advantages and opportunities. If you can’t think of anything positive ask yourself: ‘If there was anything positive, what would this be?’.
· Stop negative thoughts: If you get carried away by worries and anxieties, say to yourself in a firm and convincing tone (silently or aloud): STOP! Then think exactly the opposite (even if it is not true or you don’t believe it). Or use a comforting phrase like ‘I’ll be all right’, ‘I can handle this’, ‘this will pass’.
· Think of a time when you mastered a similar situation.
· Surround yourself with supportive, positive and cheerful people.
· Smile.
· Get help if necessary.
I attended last years’ conference and found it to be informative and stimulating.
Health and Wellbeing in Education 10-11th November - NEC, Birmingham
http://www.healthwellbeingeducation.co.uk
The Health and Safety Executive has just published its October Stress Newsletter. More on http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm
The HSE is still looking for more managers to help test their new online management tools: http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/volunteer.htm?ebul=stress/oct09&cr=01
Find out what inspectors are looking for when they visit an organisation - read this new stress topic inspection pack:
http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/09/17/stress-inspection-pack/?rss=Stress.htm?ebul=stress/oct09&cr=02
The sheer amount of e-mails one has to deal with on a daily basis can be exhausting, especially after the holidays. The situation seems out of your control, but there are things you can do:
1. Set aside certain times, when you check your e-mails and stick to them. Switch off your e-mail notifications. Tell people about this and ask them to ring you if a matter is really urgent.
2. Make use of rules and folders to organize incoming e-mails. Separate private and work e-mails.
3. Read important e-mails first and attend to them first.
4. Never reply to or forward spam or chain e-mails.
5. Reduce the number of e-mails you send. Reduce the use of ‘reply to all’, ‘cc’, and ‘bcc’.
6. Don’t get distracted by hyperlinks.
7. Look out of the window. There is a life outside!
The Times (Times2, p.2) has published today a great article with lots of information and web links for parents to help them keep their children safe in the digital world. The main message is: Keep pace with your kids and be familiar with the sites and tools they are using. Teach them internet safety just as you would teach them road safety. Make sure they talk to a trusted adult should they have any concerns. Ask the school if they cover internet safety as part of the ICT lessons and if not, try to organize a talk on the subject. At http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/byronreview you can read about the Byron Review, an independent report for the government on the effects of media on children, with a special version for young people. Visit http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/beingsmart together with your child and read about how to stay safe online.
The UK Health and Saftey Executive is looking for HR and line managers to test out the prototype for a new tool to assess and develop skills to reduce and prevent stress in those they manage. If you would like to get involved or find out more, go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/volunteer.htm?ebul=stress/aug09&cr=01
The Nationinal Institute for Clinical Excellence NICE has published today new guidlines suggesting that people suffering from non-specific low back pain should have access to certain complementary therapies under the NHS (http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/press_releases.jsp?domedia=1&mid=7D02FA0A-19B9-E0B5-D475EFB91EF4E9E9). However, low back pain can also be caused by stress. I am missing any reference to stress, and guidelines that give sufferers access to stress management courses or counselling.
Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it, like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today,
I started smiling too.
I walked around the corner,
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled, I realised,
I had passed it on to him.
I thought about the grin
and then realised its worth.
A single little smile like mine
could travel round the Earth.
So if you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Lets start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!
Laughing for stress relieve really works. Whether you laugh out loud or smirk silently, whether it’s real or fake, whether you do it yourself or see/hear somebody else. Laughing triggers the release of endorphins which make you feel good and release tension.
