mOVING bEYOND sTRESS

WIIFM … Understand the impact of stress on your life

Evaluate life satisfaction

Learn steps to restore balance

Implement practices to reduce stress on a personal level

Implement steps to reduce stress in our organization

Benefits Enhanced relationship at work & home

Control Distractions Less wastage of time

Increased Productivity Effectiveness

Focus on tasks at hand

History of stress Agricultural Age

stress from threat of catastrophic weather in destroying crops

Industrial Age

stress from new ways of doing things involving new machinery and techniques

Information Age

stress from technology keeping us connected “24/7” – causing overwhelm with information and with emails, faxes & phone calls

What is stress?

- A perceived threat - real or imagined to one’s mind,

body, spirit or emotion

What is work stress?

Harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not

match the capabilities, resources or needs of the

employee

Stress at home Two-parent family

working long hours/commute time

caring for children & elderly parents

household responsibilities

Single parent family same as above but challenges

are more extreme

Struggle with work/life balance leads to eating fast/unhealthy

diets little personal time

Problems with sleep/fatigue anger management more…

Causes for Stress fear

of the new, the unknown

of conflict

of taking a risk

of developing trust

of inability to cope with changed circumstances

feelings of personal insecurity

of vulnerability

of rejection

need for approval

lack of tolerance for ambiguity

Levels of Stress

DISTRESS HIGH LEVEL

EUSTRESS

How to respond to Stress

Change the situation

Time Management …

Decide what is more

important

Value your Time

Know what is it, you

want time for

Communication …

Share Information

More Ideas

Acknowledge Concern

Get Solutions

Communication

They own

I own

WE OWN

Determine who owns the problem

Change the Outlook …

It’s Overwhelming

Here we go again!

This won’t work

I will not be able to correct this

I’ll take it step by step

This time things will be different

Let me give another try

It’s OK to say no sometimes

Change the Situation …

I have to be …

I can’t Stand all this …

It’s always or never

Stress has been linked to… Illness

Heart disease Cancer Depression and Anxiety Stroke Immune disorders Gastrointestinal problems Diabetes Lung Ailments

Accidents

Suicide

Depression

When will it end? Stressors change

STRESS is CONSTANT

Many lack skills/knowledge to counteract or avoid the stressors in our lives.

Life is 10% how you make it & 90% how you take it

The Good News

It’s possible to be proactive

Skills can be learned to counteract the effects of stress

Programs and resources are available to support a healthy body/mind and a healthy organization

“I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.”

Charles M. Schulz

Wheel of Life Exercise Identify areas of highest and lowest satisfaction

o Career

o Money

o Health

o Friends/Family

o Significant Other/Romance

o Personal Growth

o Fun/Recreation

o Physical Environment

Wheel Of Life

Identify one area where you are most dissatisfied

Write 3 action steps to increase satisfaction in this area

Set time limit to complete these steps

Identify Energy Drainers

Be mindful of what drains your energy in the following areas:

o Food (caffeine, refined carbs, sugar, fat, fast foods,nicotine etc.)o Thoughts (negative, judgmental, rigid - attached to beliefs)o Feelings (fearful, anxious, hopeless, worried etc.)o Sleep (caffeine, TV, other media, relationship or care-giving issues)o Environment (television, noise, pollutants, chemicals, computer,

cluttered space etc.)

Develop 3 action steps to help restore balance

Set time limit to complete these steps

“Human beings are remarkably resilient. They can deal with almost anything as long as they do not become too isolated.”

Harvard Business Review

7 Steps for Personal Stress ReductionOn a regular basis:

1. Develop sense of belonging2. Practice one body/mind exercise 2-3X week3. Practice meditation 10-20 minutes 1-2X daily4. Learn to think/speak more objectively and being

nonjudgmental5. Practice sound nutrition/aerobic exercise6. Use art, music, humor, nature for increased energy7. Develop a belief system

Major points revisited

Understand the escalating impact/cost of stress at home/work

Importance of identifying stressors and being proactive

Learn to monitor reactions to stressors

Develop body/mind skills to counteract stress

Develop steps to reduce stress on organizational level

THANKS