New Delhi: Stress is inevitable! It is something we have very little control over.
Dr Gowri from DocsApp, puts it metaphorically, "stress is like getting a bad haircut. Once you have it, you just have to keep it; you can't change the way your hair looks. but you can always do little things which can make your haircut seem not as bad and over time, your hair will grow back and everything in the world will be fine again."
From running late for work to planning for our careers, everything has chunks of stress attached to it and these chunks eventually form mountains and in no time, you find yourself stuck under the Everest of stress.
Did you know? Even machines like laptops get stressed. That's when they start acting crazy and slow and eventually we have to restart them. That one click on the restart button is a stress buster for your laptops, Dr Gowri said.
If laptops deserve a break, so do you!
First and foremost, make a 'things to do' list. List each and every task on the list and then number them depending on your priority. This step won't downsize your stress but you will know exactly how many chunks of stress you're dealing with.
Here are some points the doctor puts forward to shut down you stress button:
Music: According to Dr. Stefan Koelsch, Neuroscientist, "Listening to music releases a neurochemical called Dopamine which gives us feeling of joy and happiness." It relaxes the brain and the body. Listen to a couple of songs after a good work session and enjoy the music. Just focus on the music and let your body and mind loose.
Humour: Laughter therapy is one of the most effective ways in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and stress. This is because laughter releases the body's natural feel-good chemical 'endorphins' which are known to relieve stress. After a good session of work, de-stress by watching your favorite comedy show or a stand-up set by your favorite comedian.
Breathe: When you breathe, you are sending a message to your body to relax and calm down. Research has suggested that deep breathing is one the best ways to lower stress levels in your body and brain.
Whenever you feel stress kicking in, start breathing deeply. You can also use the One-minute Breathing Technique: Breathe in for 20 seconds, hold for 20 seconds and then slowly exhale for 20 seconds. Multiple cycles of the One Minute Breathing Technique can get you ready for a good 1-hour work session.
Move: Sitting on a chair and working back to back will do you no good. Moving around increases the levels of endorphins in the body and increased endorphins levels means decreased stress levels. Balance your 60 minute work session with a 10 minute walk in the open. While walking, embrace the beauty all around you.
Talk to a friend: Talking makes you instantly active. There's a reason why people dealing with stress are advised to go to support groups and talk about their feelings. It's an amazing stress buster. After a good day at work, call a friend and catch up with them. Ensure that you're moving while talking to your friend. It will serve the dual purpose of walking and talking.
SuperHack: The Pomodoro Technique.
Once you have your 'Things to do' list figured out, organize your day on the basis of the Pomodoro Technique.
This is how it works: Depending on your workload, divide your day into these work cycles-
Work for 25 minutes and then take a short 5-minute break. (This is where you can listen to music or exercise your breathing.)
OR
Work for 45 minutes followed by a 15-minute break. (This is where you can go for a walk or talk to a friend.)
OR
Work for 60 minutes and reward yourself with ak 20-minute break. (This is where you can watch your favorite comedy show.)
Stress is going nowhere if you keep stressing about it. Get out there and show stress that you're all about winning and nothing can bring you down.
