MANAGING STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE

What is Stress?
Stress is a reaction to a basic threat and the basic threat is the perceived inability to cope. The reaction to stress is a unique personal experience, triggered by our unique personal perception of the world.

The perception factor is that mysterious variable that can often make one mans poison another mans pleasure.
How we perceive life is so often determined by the way we perceive ourselves. Reality is not made for us, but by us.

Reaction to Stress
Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen.
Greek Philosopher Epictetus

The manner in which you choose to interpret, react to and handle a perceived stress can very often be far more damaging to you than the actual stress could ever be on its own.

TYPES OF STRESS
Eustress Positive

Distress Negative
commonly known as stress

Causes of Harmful Work Stress

Source: Stress Busters Stress Survival by Robert Holden

No formal stress-care awareness policy Inconsistent, poorly trained management Inconsistent management communication Poor management/colleague relationships Unhelpful approaches/attitudes to stress Unwritten objectives and unclear goals Feeling undervalued and unappreciated Insufficient employee consultation Unrealistic workloads/time schedules Poor time management/organization skills

MANAGING STRESS

Our goal is not to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage and use it to help us.

Seven-Step Anxiety Plan

Source: Stress Busters Stress Survival by Robert Holden

Step 1 Identify the anxiety Step 2 Why do I worry? - Find the real worry Step 3 What are the benefits of worrying? - List all the

positives and negatives to this attitude

Step 4 The Universe only rewards action - List all the

possible actions. Appropriate actions abate worry. a plan of priorities of tackling your problem. future can deny the power the present.

Step 5 Which of my actions is the most appropriate? Develop Step 6 What action can I be achieving, now? - Fear of the Step 7 Attending to your anxiety needs to begin NOW.

Managing Stress
Become aware of your stressors and your emotional and physical reactions. Recognize what you can change. Reduce the intensity of your emotional reactions to stress. Learn to moderate your physical reactions to stress. Build your physical reserves. Maintain your emotional reserves. Learn to Respond, Not React

Steps to Building a Positive Attitude

Source: 1998 Macmillan India Ltd., Author: Shiv Khera

Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Step 5: Step 6: Step 7: Step 8:

Change Focus, Look for the Positive

Make a Habit of Doing it Now

Develop an attitude of gratitude Get into a continuous education program Build positive self-esteem Stay away from negative influences Learn to like the things that need to be done Start your day with a positive

Stress-Helpful Foods
Vitamin A
Brewers Yeast

Vitamin C
Iron Zinc Potassium

Essential for healthy Necessaryprevent proper Used to thatthe blood Transports proteins Helps as afor oxygen, Ensures source of Bskin, immune of the complex vitamins and functioning system increases intellectual are not converted to fat. pressure. Corn, responses, bone growth, immune system. Acts as chromium. These capacity. Foods rich in and reproductive chicken, liver, hormone potatoes, help kidney, anvitamins avocadoes, assistant in break processes. As a lean Iron are eggs, betadown natural and synthesis yogurt, oysters, banana, a is fish, carbohydrates, carotene, vitaminrice, A meat, dried fruits, fats and proteins, which supporter of healthy an antioxidant and a beans, pears, bananas chicken, and and peas wholegrain cereals,soya provides the body iron skin integrity fighter. free radical and with have Zinc in them. have it in them. and potatoes. absorption. energy.

Stress-Helpful Foods
A Natures unrefined Antaken bone &organic Helps in in gift, with If a stress treatment, These have been used As antioxidant tooth molasses granulesnerve Vitamin E, boost positive development protects and form they it be Asian by the Eastern very ginseng can maintain trace and cell membrane levels of transmission. Reduces energy levels and thus, cultures for ages. good, palpitations, nutrients and contain internal structures. heart something like help to combat stress. a Ayurveda in India has iron, in only without the Helpsmanganese, muscle cramps,anemia, alcohol, curing Some examples are holistic treatment copper, potassium, and irregular fat etc. Foods saturatedheart beat. side effects. All other whole grain bread, a approach which treats calcium. cheese, green whole grains, offer like milk,They seafood, things are mere pasta,meats, roughly the body even before sucrose level contain eggs, brown rice, vegetables allbrown rice controversial claims. 10% below traditional haveillness and.fruits. calcium. appears. vegetables any selenium refined sugar. Calcium Ginseng Carbohydrates Selenium Molasses Herbal Supplements

Stress-Aggravating Foods

Tips on Handling Stress

Work smarter, not harder. Carry reading material with you. Dont dwell upon things not done. Record daily activities to realize hidden opportunities. Always maintain a short-task list.

Continually ask yourself, What is the best use of my time right now?
Be physically active to relieve tension. Make quick decisions. Carefully mix work & breaks. Have a positive attitude. Relax.

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Pramila Mathew CEO and Executive Coach

Vikas V. Vice-President Training