BEAUTY KLINIC

Workplace stress is one of the most difficult forms of stress to avoid. You must work and once at work you will find many things to stress over. Stress in the workplace is not totally necessary. Like other stressors, there are methods to manage those found in the workplace. If you cannot avoid the stress, you can try to manage it.

The need for everything to be done today is one cause of stress. For instance, your boss wants you to complete a stack of projects as soon as possible but then comes by looking for a project already turned in. Oh, and by the way, once you get that for him, he has another stack of projects to address. It looks like it will never end but with help, you can manage it.

The best way to begin to manage the stress is by focusing on only one task at a time. Multi-tasking will lead to failure as it impacts your system. Changing focus between projects makes demands on your brain and it takes time to change your thoughts from one project to another. If you maintain your focus on a single project then your energy and thoughts remain concentrated instead of scattered by multiple projects.

Another of the biggest distractions is coworkers. One of them will often ask for your opinion or for your help with their project. This takes time and focus away from your tasks and if possible delay or avoid these time wasters. Saying “no” will help to avoid distractions. I know, it is difficult to just say no, so it may be better to tell them “As soon as I am done here” or “No, not right now”. This will give you time to finish the task at hand and by the time you finish, they may have forgotten they asked you for help or may have found a solution on their own. If not, then you can take the time to help them.

Sometimes your concentration just runs out causing all types of difficulties. You find yourself reading that paragraph for the tenth time and still don′t know what it meant, or you have been staring at the computer screen for who know how long and still don′t know what it means. Your brain is shutting down and you are becoming ineffective yet the deadline looms. Now is the time to distract yourself by getting up to get a drink, go to the restroom or take a short walk around the building, anything to get your mind off the task for a minute or so. When you return to the project you will be more effective and have lowered the stress level.

Learn some desk exercises to reduce stress. Pick up a spongy ball and squeeze it or do some stretches while at your desk. Working your muscles improves circulation and helps keep you alert and aware. Of course, you aren′t going to do a full body workout while sitting at your desk, but a little exercise can help to keep your mind focused.

Finally, take a look at your office to ensure it is comfortable for you. Are there a lot of distractions? Too much noise? Is your desk the correct height? Is everything ergonomically proper? Are you comfortable? In order to work effectively, you must be comfortable in order to avoid more stress. So, your office must be set up correctly for you. Addressing the little things in your office allows you to work more effectively, consistently and confidently.

Stress in the workplace cannot be avoided. But, proper management can minimize the stress. When the stress is managed properly, work becomes more enjoyable and you end up being more productive. Taking care of yourself and your work environment first prevents stress from controlling you.

I met my new and interesting hair stylist today when I changed hair salons. We got to talking and discovered that we had much in common. This included the challenge of staying trim and fit through every day exercise.

We discovered that we were both interested in weight loss through a healthy diet and exercise. We discussed our individual approaches and took note of each others’ successes.

Amy is at the centre of many lives including her husband, teenage kids and her clients. She was overweight by about 20 pounds when she decided to start an every day exercise program and to modify her diet. She is very proud to have lost half of her excess weight already despite her busy schedule at work and at home.

Amy’s days start early and finish late. She is so determined to improve her body and her health however, that she has fitted her every day exercise program around her work. She says that the kick that losing weight gives her is really worth organizing daily work outs in her full schedule.

Interestingly Amy wears a portable heart rate monitor on her wrist when she walks and jogs. This is something I haven’t thought to do. My faithful pedometer is one way of telling me whether I walk far enough but in order to get cardiac fitness it is essential that I walk at a pace that is approximately 1.3 times my regular heart rate.

I know my heart beat is generally 70 beats a minute. With the new monitor I intend buying, I expect to know when it reaches an elevated rate of 90-100 beats a minute for my cardio-vascular exercise each day. This kind of every day exercise will help me lose weight.

The other thing I learned from Amy was how important social support is in her program. She exercises with a girlfriend and they keep each other motivated. They have (non-eating) rewards for reaching goals that are part of their every day exercise and they have enlisted friends and family as their ’support group’ to enquire about their progress and encourage them to continue.

I know that every day exercise can get a little dreary and you need to know whether you are making any gains so it is essential that you actually chart your progress. This can be either for changes in body shape or reduction in the circumference of various parts of your body for example your butt, your waist, or your upper arms, or your chest.

The danger with charting is that some people do it too frequently and become discouraged when they do not make sufficient gains. Another danger is that some people chart at the wrong time. Always measure your weight at the same time each morning not in the afternoon or evening when there is greater fluid retention or when you have been eating.

I am impressed with Amy. If, with her buddy she can head towards a fitter body by staying committed to every day exercise, charting their progress, enlisting supporters, building in rewards, and using different instruments to read her progress along the way, I can learn from her enthusiasm and organization and get fitter and healthier too.