Office" has been a huge hit around the world spawning countless
spin off's and remakes.
The fact is that the comic situation transfers across cultural
barriers. The exact idioms of the language may alter but
essentially we see people in the show that we relate to in our
own workplace - sometimes we even see ourselves.
The people are not the only aspect of the show tat transfers,
so do the situations the characters find themselves in. Do these
two quotes from The Office strike a chord?
Jim Halpert: Because right now, this is a job. If I advance any
higher, this would be my career. And if this were my career, I'd
have to throw myself in front of a train.
Michael Scott: This is our receptionist, Pam. If you think
she's cute now, you should have seen her a couple years ago.
These lines may be funny yet they point to something basic and
fundamental pertaining to the work place: stress and more
specifically work related stress.
The UK Health and Safety at Work Executive (HSE); the UK
government's Work related health and safety body define work
related stress as: "the adverse reaction a person has to
excessive pressure or other types of demand placed upon them."
A certain degree of stress is healthy, t keeps us on our toes
and drives us to achieve. In essence stress will cause us to
lead more fulfilling lives. The difficulty is here however, is
how do we create a healthy balance of stress because too much
stress and anxiety is certainly harmful to your health and
well-being? What techniques can we apply to encourage stress and
anxiety relief in our lives? Stay with me for a short while and
we'll look at 10 simple ideas to initiate stress and anxiety
relief at work.
Tune Into Your Body
A simple idea it may be, but one that is the key to unlocking
the box to the other stress and anxiety relief techniques that
we shall examine. Be aware of the degree of stress that you're
experiencing at any one moment in time. First of all you need to
know when your stress levels are rising.
Measure your stress level on a scale of 1-10. While you're at
home find a time when you are alone and when you can lie down
with your eyes closed. Put on your favourite music for relaxing
or just sit in silence, whatever works best for you. Just let
your mind wander and do not seek to hold your thoughts, no
matter how fleeting. After 10 minutes or so you should be aware
of level zero stress.
this is the gauge for measuring all other stress levels. During
the day check into the scale and not the level of tension that
you're feeling: are your shoulders hunched and tense; how does
your gut feel, is it tight and churning; is your jaw clenched?
Take time to move
Movement is a great way to reduce stress levels. Just by
getting out of your seat and moving around you will find that
you will feel a measure of stress and anxiety relief. A brisk
walk during your lunch break and a short jogging session at the
end of the day will reduce tension. Generally aim to keep fit
anyway.
Take time for deep breathing
Simply breaths deeply, inhaling through the nostrils, after
holding the breath for a count of three exhale slowly through
the mouth.
Take time to use your minds power of imagery
This is another great way to bring stress and anxiety relief
into the workplace. Just take a moment or two to imagine that yo
are somewhere else. Hear the sound of the sea, create the vivid
colours of the sky in your mind, soar of to your favourite place
and do not wait for that distant vacation; go there today. The
more vivid the images the better this stress and anxiety relief
technique will work.
Take time to challenge your irrational thoughts
Be aware of you inner voice and the messages that it is sending
to you. Often these thoughts are based on previous mind
conditioning and the thoughts will be harmful and create
unnecessary levels of stress. For example if you are under
pressure to get something done by a particular time you may find
yourself thinking" I must get this done or else I'm fired and
I'll need to find another job!" This is probably not the case
and if it is then you're probably better looking for another job
anyway.
Take time to plan work into smaller manageable tasks
A large taks can be overwhelming and may need to be broken down
into simpler easier to complete jobs. We meet more step by step
targets this way and feel agreater sense of achievment after
each step is finished. Give yourselfa reward for completing the
smaller taks and do not wait for the final task before you give
yourself a pat on the back.
Take time to reduce cafine intake
Have you ever seen a two-year old completely wired after
chomping through a few cookies or drinking cola? Well that's
exactly what happens to all of us when we take in too much sugar
or caffeine. However, unlike the nipper at home we can't very
well run around the office making airplane noises, we just carry
the excess stress.
Take time to have a play break
Some professionals keep "squish" balls, or stress balls, in
their work space a simple squeeze is all that is needed for
rapid relief of stress and anxiety. Other people take a few
minutes to play a game at www.addictinggames.
(less than five minutes), easy to play, and many don't require a
download.
Take time to Blow Off Steam - but fairly
don't think that you can't vent a little, but just remember
words spoken in anger can haunt you for a long time if they're
read or overheard by the wrong person. Don't put anything in
email you don't want the whole office to see.
take time to understand that a little stress is worthwhile
Finally, remember that it's natural to feel stress when you
leave your comfort zone. Some stress must be endured as you
expand your horizons, learn new tasks and earn new
responsibilities. That kind of stress may not be much fun, but
in the long run, it's worth it!
About The Author: Peter Wellington writes for
http://www.shrinkst
comprehensive archive of free information on simple techniques
to rapidy reduce stress in your life
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