About Stress Management

Thanksgiving Stress Relief

2009-11-12T05:04:46Z

Now that Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, and the stores are all stocked with holiday decor, the holiday season is gaining momentum. For many people, this means adding extra cleaning and cooking, hosting and hostessing, and other activity to an already-packed schedule. There are also the decisions of who to see, who stays where, or whether home is the place to be, and balancing everyone's needs and feelings.

How much stress should you endure (from travel, cooking and dealing with difficult relatives) for the special moments Thanksgiving brings?

There are many decisions to be made, but keeping in mind the main focus of the holidays--love, family and gratitude, can help keep stress at bay. And here are a few other things to think about.

Elizabeth's Thanksgiving Stress Relief

How To Reduce Holiday Stress

How To Cut Down On Holiday Stress With A Simple Holiday Meal

Managing The Seemingly Inevitable Holiday Season Stress

Difficult Relatives? Here's How To Deal

Entertaining Shortcuts

How To Handle Loneliness During The Holidays

Thanksgiving Stress Relief originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 05:04:46.

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Stressed About 2012?

2009-11-10T19:51:02Z

When I first started hearing about the 2012 fears--predictions that the world will come to an end in 2012--I thought, 'Interesting.' After a friend told me about a documentary she saw detailing the fact that the ancient Mayan calendar ends in 2012, part of me thought, 'Wow, is there something to this?' Then the buzz got louder, and a terrifying movie trailer appeared, depicting the destruction of the world as we know it--a movie titled, of course, 2010--and I thought, 'Oh, no.'

My concern was less that the would would, in fact, end via an astroid hitting us, or an ancient Mayan curse, or a reversal in the spin of the Earth's rotation--all possibilities I'd heard kicked around--but that people would become so scared by these possibilities that we'd panic and create our own problems as a society. (The scary movie coming out can't be helping things.)

That's why I was happy to see this new article from About.com's own John Millis, Guide to Space and Astronomy. He examines each theory and provides a scientific explanation of each, and, happily, provides reassuring information on all fronts. Whether you've been concerned about 2012, or have even heard of these theories, I'd recommend that you read this article so you'll know the scoop if it ever comes up in conversation between now and the end of 2012.

Will The Earth End in 2012?

What's your take on the whole 2012 issue? Leave your thoughts in the 'comments' section below.

Stressed About 2012? originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 19:51:02.

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Make Your Job More Fun!

2009-11-07T22:16:31Z

Yesterday I went to Magic Mountain, a fun theme park, with my kids and some friends. As we walked (well, scampered, really) through the park and rode various rides, I noticed something that made me think of a blog I wrote just a few weeks ago about enjoying your job more. Unlike Disneyland, where everyone who works in the park generally stays 'in character' and focuses on the enjoyment of the guests and nothing else for their entire shift, there was a variety of commitment that most other park employees showed toward their jobs, mirroring what we find in most fields, especially customer service-oriented ones.

Some of the park employees were friendly enough, but obviously watching the clock. These people were pleasant, but not really smiling. They did their jobs perfunctorily, and were nice, but were obviously 'working'. Many people approach their jobs this way--they manage to get by, and do a decent job, but they look forward to breaks and days off, and would quit their jobs immediately if they didn't need the money. The can't imagine things any other way.

Contrast this with the guy who ran 'The Scrambler'--I didn't catch his name, so I'll refer to him as "Scrambler Guy", or "S.G." for short. S.G. acted like he was having as much fun running the ride as we were having on it! Where other people might turn on the ride and turn it off after several minutes, staring off into space and imagining being at home while the ride was running, S.G. was constantly keeping things interesting: asking us if we want to go faster (of course!), reminding us that there are churros to be had (yum!) and providing us a soundtrack with his "beat boxing" (which wasn't great, but I had to admire his effort). His energy was infectious, and I found myself happy to ride the ride three times in a row and hear his commentary throughout. I made the comment to him that he seemed to really enjoy his job, and he replied something like, "Ya gotta make it fun, right?"

Well, actually, not everyone does approach their job like S.G. does, but those who do--those who use their creativity and energy to go beyond their basic job description and create a better experience for themselves and those around them--tend to enjoy their jobs more, experience less job burnout, and generally enjoy life more.

The good news is that most of us have the ability to change our approach to our jobs, and make the job more fun. And with an extremely competitive job market out there, that's usually much easier than switching jobs, so it's a good route to pursue if possible. Think about it: if S.G. came to work at your company, how would he approach the job to make it more fun? How might you approach your job differently?

More Job Satisfaction Resources:

Make Your Job More Fun

What Makes A Job Great?

Respond: How Can You Improve Your Work Experience?

Find Satisfaction At Your Current Job

Poll: What Causes You The Most Stress?

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Make Your Job More Fun! originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 22:16:31.

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More Stress FAQs

2009-11-06T15:50:25Z

Many of the questions I hear about stress are asked more than once, by different people; many of the stressful situations that people face are shared by many. Below are a few answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question that you don't see addressed, you can post it in the comments, the forum or send me an email--your question could be included in the next round of FAQs.

What Coping Strategies Are Effective?
"I need help with coping strategies! I've worked very hard to build up security in my life, and now because of tough economic times, I find myself with few assets that are worth anything and a precarious job situation. These stresses are even taking a toll on my relationships! I feel like everything I've worked so hard for, everything I thought I'd always be able to count on, is falling apart. What coping strategies can help with this?" Read on for the answer, and an invitation to leave your own answers.

Can Simple Tips For Managing Stress Actually Work?
"I'm feeling completely overwhelmed, and am having difficulty managing stress! I keep reading about simple things like breathing exercises or meditation, but they can't change my life. How can these tips for managing stress help?" Read more for more on managing stress.

Read Stress FAQs

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More Stress FAQs originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 15:50:25.

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Are Pessimists Safer?

2009-11-03T18:43:51Z

I recently visited my friend and colleague Carl Lanore on his Super Human Radio show, and we discussed optimism, pessimism and the ways these perspectives can impact us in the face of crises and setbacks. We had a very interesting discussion, as the topic is more applicable to many people this year than it has been in past years when so many people weren't facing financial stress and all the other stressors that can come with it. One concept that came up is the idea that pessimists may be safer than optimists in some ways. While I still endorse optimism and love the benefits that come with this perspective in life, we discussed how unbridled positive thinking can cause disillusionment when things don't go our way in life.

This is a commonly addressed theme, and many of my readers have had the same question. Here's a more detailed answer to the question: are pessimists better off?

Is It Safer To Be A Pessimist?

More On Optimism, Pessimism, And Positive Psychology

What's your take on this? Leave your thoughts in the comments section._{Like this post? Want to use it to start a discussion with your friends? Pass it on!

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Are Pessimists Safer? originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 18:43:51.
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The Secret To Less-Stressed Holidays

2009-11-02T06:48:14Z

I know, I know, it seems early to be talking about 'The Holiday Season', right? I mean, it's only the beginning of November! (Wow, it's the beginning of November ALREADY?) Seriously, though, with a holiday stress poll saying that the vast majority of my readers find the holidays stressful, I wanted to help you relieve some of that holiday stress with a secret weapon that you can use for a limited time only: an early start! Here are some things you can do now that will help you create a much less stressed next-two-months.

Holiday Stress Relief
What causes all the stress of the holiday season, and what can you do to manage it? Read this article now, and get a handle on the stress before it begins. This is the season to enjoy it all!

Dealing With Difficult People
As the holiday season approaches, you're likely going to see more of people: more family at holiday gatherings, more of your co-workers at holiday parties, and more people when you're traveling and shopping. Here are some tips for dealing with the difficult people in your life.

Take The Free E Course on Holiday Stress Relief!
The holiday season can be a time of great stress. Fear not! This free 5-week e-course helps you get prepared for the holiday season without all the stress and let the joy of the season shine through. Now is a great time for this e course--you can get the 'work' of the holidays out of the way easily, and in time to enjoy the holidays the way they were meant to be enjoyed--with less stress!

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The Secret To Less-Stressed Holidays originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 06:48:14.

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Life's Little Pleasures--Big Stress Relief!

2009-10-29T06:27:28Z

Isn't it fun when you learn that something you enjoy is also good for you? Well, good news: many of the things that bring you pleasure are also effective for stress management! Therefore, this blog is devoted to life's pleasures that double as stress relievers. Read up, and choose some to start incorporating into your life right now!

Life's Pleasures for Stress Relief
How can life's pleasures enhance your life? And which ones should you choose? What's the secret to continually enjoying life as you age? Learn more about how to build a lifestyle with built-in pleasure and stress relief.

Having Fun: Why and How
Why is it important for us to have fun, and how can we get more fun into our lives? Read more about why adults need play time, too, and how we can enjoy some regular fun.

Readers, Respond! Top Ways To Have Fun For Stress Relief
It's important to have fun in your life, as a way to relieve stress, stay connected with others, maintain balance and stave off burnout. In childhood, it's easy to have fun, but in adulthood, fun often needs to become a priority. Do you have enough fun in your life? And what do you do to have fun and blow off stress? Add your answers to this reader response article, or in the comments.

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Life's Little Pleasures--Big Stress Relief! originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 06:27:28.

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Enjoy Your Job More

2009-10-26T07:13:54Z

According to this poll, job stress is the greatest stressor faced by readers like you. With a tough job market, high unemployment rates, and greater pressures in many jobs, it's no wonder. But having a job you enjoy can be a great stress relief. Here are some tips for those who dread Mondays and look forward to Fridays--or just people who could enjoy their jobs more; find help in turning your job into a more enjoyable one.

How Does Your Job Rate?
What makes a job more enjoyable? Positive Psychology researchers have differentiated different types of jobs into three categories of meaning and enjoyment. How would you classify yours, and how can you make a so-so job more fulfilling? Read here to see!

Make Your Job More Fun
How do you make a job more fun and fulfilling? Here are some simple tips that can make a huge difference in your experience of your job!

Find Satisfaction At Your Current Job
Here are some additional tips for those who are on the road to burnout, and want to enjoy their jobs more.

Readers Respond: Can You Create A Better Job?
Wish you had a better job? According to a poll on this site, job stress is the biggest stressor people face, and affects a great number of people. Many people would like to have a better job, but don't want to take the risk to switch jobs. If you could change your job to be a better job, what would you change? (Fewer hours, more recognition, nicer co-workers?) Or, if you've taken steps to make your current job a better job, what have you tried? Has it worked? Share your "better job" fantasies and tips!

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Enjoy Your Job More originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 07:13:54.

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Self-Imposed Stress

2009-10-22T04:59:48Z

Ever get the feeling that some of the stress in your life might be brought on by...you? If so, your perceptions may be accurate, which can be both good and bad.

Because high levels of stress are thought to adversely affect students' health as well as their grades, researchers recently examined the lives of 877 university students and their stressors. Long story short, they discovered that the greatest number of stressors that students experienced were self-imposed! (They also found themselves stressed by outside pressures, but stressors they brought upon themselves were the most widely experienced.) And, while college students share some unique features, they aren't so unique that they don't share many of the same factors that are faced universally--self-imposed stressors may be more common to the population at large than people realize.

The reason I dub this 'bad news' is probably evident--obviously, it's not great to know that large amounts of stress might be self-imposed. However, self-imposed stress means stress that can be more easily managed. It can be identified and, well, we can stop imposing it on ourselves!

For the stressed college students, researchers recommended stress management, assertiveness training, time management and even counseling sessions to help the students get a handle on their stress. These can be helpful for virtually everyone. See the resources below for more information.

Stress Management Resources from Elizabeth Scott

Managing Stress 101

Time Management

How To Deal

Stress In College

Self Sabotage

Assertiveness Training

What are some ways that you bring more stress upon yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

_{Source: Hamaideh SH. Stressors and reactions to stressors among university students. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, October 15, 2009.}

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Self-Imposed Stress originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 04:59:48.

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Feel Grateful, Sleep Better!

2009-10-19T06:33:44Z

I started keeping a gratitude journal several years ago, and, though I go through phases where I write more often or skip a few nights, I've found that I tend to drift to sleep more easily and happily after I've gotten myself into the 'warm and fuzzy' place that comes from counting my blessings. That's why I wasn't completely surprised when I ran across this research study about gratitude journaling: researchers have found that differences in gratitude levels actually affect sleep quality!

Researchers assessed 186 men and 215 women (40% of which had clinically impaired sleep), and measured their level of gratitude, their quality of sleep, and five main personality traits (to see if differences in sleep quality could be tied to personality differences). (The five personality traits, which have been generally accepted as definitive to personality, are: openness to new experience, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism.)

Researchers found that gratitude predicted better self-reported sleep quality, as well as duration of sleep, and less 'sleep latency' (the amount of time it takes to fall asleep after the lights have gone out) and daytime dysfunction. The relationship between gratitude and each of these variables was mediated by the thoughts people had before falling asleep: more positive before-sleep thoughts and less negative ones. All of these results were found to be unrelated to personality traits, including neuroticism, (which one might expect to affect sleep quality and ability to fall asleep).

This research is pretty big news for those who need better quality sleep, and those who need more of it (which, according to a sleep poll on this site, includes the vast majority of us)! We can use this information to help ourselves and our children in many areas of our lives, since sleep deprivation affects not only our stress levels, but our daytime functioning. (See this article on the importance of sleep.) Here are some things to try:

Gratitude Journaling
I recommend keeping a gratitude journal for general stress relief and overall happiness, but now that we know this practice can lead to better sleep, I consider it a must. See this article for tips on maintaining a gratitude journal, where you'll have a record of all that you have to appreciate in your life--great for reading when you're feeling blue.

Gratitude With Kids
If you have children, and if you're not doing this already, it's a great idea to get in the habit of reviewing three things that you have to be grateful for before you tuck them in and turn out the light. This can be done in the form of a sharing conversation, a prayer, or a family gratitude journal that you keep together. You may find bedtime reluctance diminishing and daytime moods and productivity improved.

Tweet Your Gratitude
Join me on Twitter, where I've started a daily gratitude practice--you can maintain a daily gratitude announcement there, where you 'tweet' three things for which you're grateful at the end of each day, and can see what others are grateful for. (You can also share your list on this blog or in the Stress Management Forum if you're still working up to making it a nightly habit.)

Additional Sleep and Gratitude Resources:

Join My Gratitude Program!

Power Naps and the Importance of Sleep

Healthy Habits for Better Sleep

Quality Sleep for the Stressed

Benefits of Gratitude

Keep a Gratitude Journal

_{Source: Wood AM, Joseph S, Lloyd J, Atkins S.Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, January 2009.}_{Like this post? Want to use it to start a discussion with your friends? Pass it on!

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Feel Grateful, Sleep Better! originally appeared on About.com Stress Management on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 06:33:44.
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