However, over the years, there have been a few changes to my attitude, understanding and approach to stress management. Often as it turns out to be, going through a rough phase can help us discover new things and this is what exactly happened with me. It is so much like Test match cricket, you go through a rough phase, you then improve your technique, temperament and attitude to the game. For me, in some ways, it has been a journey of extremes – from a point when I thought, stress meant nothing, driven by some sorta arrogant belief that one can take tons of stress (I can handle it all!) if one has the ability to chill out – to the other extreme when I finally understood that stress needs to be managed on a regular basis and there is more to it than just trying to be chill.
Since then, it has been a process of gradual reconstruction, driven by the intent to discover what I termed as AM_v2 (much like how Indica transformed as a car after initial quality issues!) – there is always that scope for improvement, but I have learnt a bit about stress management and this post is an attempt to put it all together.
Rest of this post is going to be more in graphical format to communicate the complex message better:
We all deal with stress differently. Please do get back to me with your comments if you think differently about stress management.
9 comments:
interesting post. defly enough food for thought.
stress management, what can i say... only thing is, whatever happens, happens for the best, and for a reason.
if it happens, great... and if it doesn't happen, then, great. I suppose with this, we minimize our attachment to the result...
usually, our internal expectations and focus on the result to give us that momentary burst of happiness, leads to more stress.
activities that could potentially increase the endorphin levels greatly help too.. (like jogging, workout, swimming, games, sex, etc.).
then, the healthy but highly individualistic pursuits like writing, music, meditation, etc...
but then, it is all in the mind. it can make or break stress.
despite all this, stress management is always an uphill task.. just like time management.
Nice article.Came across these quotes on the web which i kind-of found relevant...
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
-William James.
One antidote to stress is self-expression.
-Garson Kanin.
nice one...some are common sense...some are common sense but easily prone to be forgotten. nicely but gently prodded... ;)
any tips on the "switching off"?
and as for my strategy to manage stress, i dont know....dont have a specific one. till date, its been more or less concentrating on ones strengths. be the best at what you can be the best at. it helps. can be anything...it really helps.
and never be alone...if by some chance, one is alone and friendless during times of stress, ones own thoughts can be harder to trust...stupidity and rashness can be possible outcomes...
Thanks guys...
@ Ranga: Totally agree
@ Basu: Super! thats the key... thanks...
@ Maharaj: Switching off is important... or as basu has put it, "choose one thought over the other" - dot on, i didn't need the entire post! :-) Essentialy switching off is impt coz under stress, our reactions don't follow often follow the logical path... or rather, we don't have a good perspective... so, reacting under stress would mean doing more damage than good... (yeah yeah, if u r at a gun point, better react!!)
now, for switching off, think of other good things on earth... it is tough, very tough sometimes, but makes a lot of sense...
For instance, when u receive a crazy mail from ur boss or anyone else - instead of blowing up things further, simply delay the reaction time till u think u r back to nearly the normal state of mind...
The other funda i often find useful is to say to myself -"irrespective of the externalities, the only person responsible for my mood/state of mind is me... full stop"
The problem is you see in the condition of being highly stressed, you really forget about the self-help techniques, for me thinking about what worst can happen works and of course sleeping is the best bet and a way of switching off for me. When I wake up I am much better, the thing that started the stress in the first place takes a back seat.
@Ninja: Yep, yep... it is diff to think of self help techniques when one is stressed... and as u said, the best thing to do is to probably delay the reaction time... thinking of the worst and accepting it does help some people... strangely, doesn't work with me :-(
Dude,
who reads this kinda stuff?
And, who writes this kinda stuff??
Hi Anupama,
Great article.I am preparing a presentation for my MBA when I came across your article.Very useful.Thank u very much.Keep up the good work..
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