Sunshine, Smooth Sailing, and…Stress?

Have you ever known someone who is just successful and happy in everything they do? You watch them sail through life as if they don’t have a care in the world, and yet they manage to land the big jobs, move up the corporate ladder effortlessly, and greet each day with a smile on their face.

You may think that these easygoing go-getters have been gifted with a little extra luck or charisma, and that these extraordinary characteristics contribute to their success. You may think that they are living a charmed, stress-free life and that the average person could never replicate their achievements. You may even think that you—with your worries and cares and struggles—could never be like them. You’d be wrong.

Those who appear to be living their life on calm waters and under clear skies do have something to teach us, but the lesson is not how to avoid stress…it’s how to manage it.

While there are positive forms of stress, such as the stress you experience while riding a rollercoaster or giving birth, it is the negative stress that can weigh you down. A person’s approach to negative stress is the major difference between those that remain focused and accomplished and those that fumble and worry their way through life. Stress is far more than just a distraction. It can be seriously detrimental to your work performance and your health.

According to the American Institute of Stress, there are many negative effects of stress that relate to your work life. Reduced work efficiency and productivity are the most obvious, but difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and trouble making decisions also play a role. In fact, it is said that stress is the number one cause for workplace absences!

Your body really pays the price when your mind is focused on stress. Many people do not realize stress’ toll on their health and wellbeing. Stress headaches, back pain, and buzzing or ringing in your ears can all be signs of stress. Scarier symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, and difficulty breathing. A recent study conducted in Canada showed a nearly 30% increase in visits to healthcare providers for stress-related symptoms.

What can you do? You can learn to identify and manage stress. Techniques to reduce stress can easily be incorporated into your daily activities and be tailored to fit mild or extreme stress situations. Learning to manage stress can be life changing. Take the bull by the horns and put a plan in place to manage your stress today!

For more information and ideas on managing stress, take Grace Hill’s Stress Management Course.