Stress Prevention and Management

Consider your Personality

Research shows that personality plays an important role in determining a person's susceptibility to stress. Personality types are largely determined by our surrounding culture as society rewards and reinforces certain behaviour patterns.

The following behaviours are related to "high stress":

• An intense drive to advance and beat the competition.
• An adversarial, or confrontational manner in relationships.
• Quick pace in walking, eating, speaking, and gesturing.
• Constant physical and mental alertness.
• Inability to relax.
• Dislike for waiting.

What you can do:

Strive for balance - rest/work, public/private.

Reframe thinking to accentuate the positive. Avoid harsh criticism of yourself and others.

Take time to enjoy the little things in life.

Share the load - no-one is an island.

Develop your sense of humour.

Encourage others - self absorption is dangerous.

Leave home at home and work at work - use the commute to unwind, relax, and refocus.

Work at keeping the lines of communication open in the workplace and at home - talk with others.

These recommendations may take some effort. But there are many tools and resources available to help you. Small steps can make a significant impact over a lifetime.

From: Stress: Living and Working in a Changing World - Edited by George Manning, Kent Curtis, and Steve McMillen. Whole Person Associates, Inc.

Coping with Stress at Work