We are bludgeoned every day by the numbers: stock market declines, plummeting home values, swelling ranks of the unemployed, shrinking retirement portfolios (and the list goes on).
This is the essence of stress: Circumstances that intimately affect us but over which we seemingly have no control. But, there are some things that we can do -
We are not hopeless victims. We are not corks bobbing on an endless sea. So don't mortgage your serenity over these economic events, nor squander your peace of mind.
Know where the money goes.
Using just one credit card offers easy handling of expenses. (pay off the charges each month so there's no interest.) At the end of the month, review the statement and ask if we made good choices: "Did we really need that extra dinner out?" "Did I really need a new suit?". Apply what you learn.
Have a clear and realistic picture of income.
What happens if that hot horse does not win? What happens if the "can't miss stock" does not produce a big dividend? If we work on commission or have a cyclical income, what is the minimum average that we can honestly expect?
Be vigilant about cyber thieves.
With the increasing sophistication of would-be thieves and the amount of personal financial data accessible online, take precautions and proper safeguards are in place.
Keep tabs on all accounts.
Check regularly that there are no glaring inconsistencies, not just when the statement arrives.
Have an exit strategy.
Have a plan B. If I lose my regular income, how will I take care of myself and my family? It is far better to address these contingencies during the light and warmth of the day rather than in the darkness of the 11th hour.
Protect your ability to earn.
The most powerful equity we have is our ability to work/earn. Ill health affects both your productivity (value) and capacity to work. So take best care of yourself — by exercising, getting enough rest, watching your weight, fixing 'niggles' before they become pain or, worse, incapacitating.
Yes, we need to take care of our financial health and not hand over the reigns to some expert. We need to be proactive; we need to be preemptive.
We also need to safeguard our physical and mental health. We need to protect and invest in our greatest assets — ourselves.
Author: Edward T. Creagan, M.D
First posted on February 13, 2009 at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY00562
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Seven Habits (to Break) of Highly Effective People
During these tough financial times, many people feel they have to push themselves to unhealthy levels in order to succeed. But high-pressure jobs and long hours take a real toll on their immediate and future health. Whether running for president, moving up the corporate ladder, or juggling the family's activities, success may come at a hefty cost.
The 7 worst habits of these workaholics include:
Forgeting to relax: Some stress can be good because it keeps you alert and motivated; too much stress, however, will take its toll on your body.
Eating on the go: Beware of frozen meals, fast and processed foods that can be high in sodium, calories, and fat. The digestive system also works better when you are relaxed - so take 20 minutes, away from work/phone to enjoy a meal.
Putting off sleep for work: Lack of sleep can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, poor judgment, and obesity.
Not making time for exercise: Humans were not designed to sit at desks for 8+ hours a day. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk for nearly every major disease and to help fight anxiety and depression.
Working when sick: Three common-sense reasons to stay home -
i) avoid spreading the infection,
ii) you'll be less productive, and
iii) you need rest to get better.
Drinking (too much): Moderate alcohol consumption has some proven health benefits, but excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, liver disease, and some forms of cancer. Aim for four alcohol-free days a week - and don't binge on the others!
Skipping medical checkups: Depending on age, family history and lifestyle, a comprehensive medical checkup and special screenings is recommended every 1 to 5 years. It will only take between 15-60 minutes of your time - how much is your life worth?
Eventually, something's going to give: If you are burning the candle at both ends, the candle will melt in the middle and the flame burn out faster! Work at maintaining a healthy balance of work, rest and play and you will be happier and healthier overall.
Resource: Dr George Griffing, Professor of Medicine at St. Louis University and Editor in Chief of Internal Medicine for eMedicine. Posted 16/1/09 at
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/586037?src=mp&spon=17&uac=82196DX
The 7 worst habits of these workaholics include:
Forgeting to relax: Some stress can be good because it keeps you alert and motivated; too much stress, however, will take its toll on your body.
Eating on the go: Beware of frozen meals, fast and processed foods that can be high in sodium, calories, and fat. The digestive system also works better when you are relaxed - so take 20 minutes, away from work/phone to enjoy a meal.
Putting off sleep for work: Lack of sleep can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, poor judgment, and obesity.
Not making time for exercise: Humans were not designed to sit at desks for 8+ hours a day. Exercise has been shown to reduce the risk for nearly every major disease and to help fight anxiety and depression.
Working when sick: Three common-sense reasons to stay home -
i) avoid spreading the infection,
ii) you'll be less productive, and
iii) you need rest to get better.
Drinking (too much): Moderate alcohol consumption has some proven health benefits, but excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, liver disease, and some forms of cancer. Aim for four alcohol-free days a week - and don't binge on the others!
Skipping medical checkups: Depending on age, family history and lifestyle, a comprehensive medical checkup and special screenings is recommended every 1 to 5 years. It will only take between 15-60 minutes of your time - how much is your life worth?
Eventually, something's going to give: If you are burning the candle at both ends, the candle will melt in the middle and the flame burn out faster! Work at maintaining a healthy balance of work, rest and play and you will be happier and healthier overall.
Resource: Dr George Griffing, Professor of Medicine at St. Louis University and Editor in Chief of Internal Medicine for eMedicine. Posted 16/1/09 at
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/586037?src=mp&spon=17&uac=82196DX
Monday, September 22, 2008
2 signposts on the journey toward peace
By virtue of our humanity, we are all seekers, we are each on a journey to find serenity and that elusive state of "happiness."
As my "happiness" may be very different from someone elses. Perhaps the better term is that of serenity,by which I mean a comforting envelope of peace and tranquility while we are buffered by chaos and confusion.
The two major signposts, as I see them are both unique and important and each can be articulated as:
1) The gift, the courage, the presence to say "no."
We are all busy, we all have relentless demands on our time and energies and if we say "yes" to everything, at the end of the day our tank is dry and there is nothing left.
2) The notion of self care.
I cannot ever remember through decades of formal education anyone ever telling me to take care of myself. I do not remember anyone advising me to throttle back my plans and my ambition.
The mantra of today's culture is the relentless acquisition of trinkets and widgets, the relentless to-do list, and the relentless emptiness as we frantically seek that butterfly of happiness.
So here's a reminder: enjoy the journey, embrace the trip and don't be too concerned about the final destination.
Resource: By Edward T. Creagan, M.D. at
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY00249
As my "happiness" may be very different from someone elses. Perhaps the better term is that of serenity,by which I mean a comforting envelope of peace and tranquility while we are buffered by chaos and confusion.
The two major signposts, as I see them are both unique and important and each can be articulated as:
1) The gift, the courage, the presence to say "no."
We are all busy, we all have relentless demands on our time and energies and if we say "yes" to everything, at the end of the day our tank is dry and there is nothing left.
2) The notion of self care.
I cannot ever remember through decades of formal education anyone ever telling me to take care of myself. I do not remember anyone advising me to throttle back my plans and my ambition.
The mantra of today's culture is the relentless acquisition of trinkets and widgets, the relentless to-do list, and the relentless emptiness as we frantically seek that butterfly of happiness.
So here's a reminder: enjoy the journey, embrace the trip and don't be too concerned about the final destination.
Resource: By Edward T. Creagan, M.D. at
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY00249
Monday, July 21, 2008
The straw that broke the camel's back
Once upon a time in a land far, far away, a merchant needed a camel to transport straw to another city. Since each piece of straw weighed no more than a feather, the merchant did not anticipate the rest of the story. As each piece of straw was put on the camel's back, the camel never complained. The camel said to his master, "I can handle this. I have lots of energy. I am strong, and after all, it is my responsibility to carry the straw."
Well, we all know what happened. The camel never complained, it did what camels are suppose to do, and the addition of one final blade of straw buckled the knees of the camel, broke its back, and he slumped to the desert floor. This is a famous story which fits into many of the themes on our stress blog. Some of the themes which I derive from the story are as follows.
The camel, like many of us, never learns to say "no." He did what he was supposed to do as do many of us and it took its toll on his health and well-being.
The camel, like many of us, did not know its limits. We only have so much strength, we only have so much time, and we only have so much energy. If we continue to say "yes" to everything, we are set up for the same fate as the camel.
The camel did not strike a compromise with his master. There were no discussions of limits; there were no discussions of dividing up the burden to use other camels; there was no attempt to negotiate with the master a better way to deliver the product or to complete the task.
So, what other lessons do you find in the power walk of the camel? In a sense, each of us is a camel with responsibilities and tasks and very clear limits. What have some of us learned so that we do not go down the same road as our camel brethren?
Resource: By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Published on 2/7/08 at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY00152
Well, we all know what happened. The camel never complained, it did what camels are suppose to do, and the addition of one final blade of straw buckled the knees of the camel, broke its back, and he slumped to the desert floor. This is a famous story which fits into many of the themes on our stress blog. Some of the themes which I derive from the story are as follows.
The camel, like many of us, never learns to say "no." He did what he was supposed to do as do many of us and it took its toll on his health and well-being.
The camel, like many of us, did not know its limits. We only have so much strength, we only have so much time, and we only have so much energy. If we continue to say "yes" to everything, we are set up for the same fate as the camel.
The camel did not strike a compromise with his master. There were no discussions of limits; there were no discussions of dividing up the burden to use other camels; there was no attempt to negotiate with the master a better way to deliver the product or to complete the task.
So, what other lessons do you find in the power walk of the camel? In a sense, each of us is a camel with responsibilities and tasks and very clear limits. What have some of us learned so that we do not go down the same road as our camel brethren?
Resource: By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Published on 2/7/08 at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY00152
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The buck stops with us
Every once in awhile there is a quote that hits home, for example:
'As we think so we become', and 'Our attitude creates reality'
In other words, our reaction to a situation determines the amount of stress we will have. So, what does this mean from a practical standpoint?
If we become upset, angry, or disappointed over an event, a person, or a circumstance, we are giving up our peace of mind and our serenity to that person, to that event, or to that situation. If I am stuck in traffic and I am running late for an appointment and if I am frustrated and angry, I have given up my serenity and my peace of mind to a traffic jam over which I have no control.
If any of us doubt this wisdom, let us repeat tomorrow morning, "I will have a lousy day," five times. Guess what, this will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, if we tell ourselves this will be a day of miracles and something wonderful will happen, the probability is much greater that yes indeed it will be creative and a fulfilling day.
So, I think we are learning from each other that there are no simple solutions, there are no quick fixes, but by reframing the way we view a problem we can better retain our serenity and peace of mind because after all, if our health deteriorates, nothing else really matters.
The buck does stop with us and to a very real extent we need to be proactive and assertive in securing, maintaining, and nurturing our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being.
Written by Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
March 18, 2008 and published on http://www.mayoclinic.com/health
'As we think so we become', and 'Our attitude creates reality'
In other words, our reaction to a situation determines the amount of stress we will have. So, what does this mean from a practical standpoint?
If we become upset, angry, or disappointed over an event, a person, or a circumstance, we are giving up our peace of mind and our serenity to that person, to that event, or to that situation. If I am stuck in traffic and I am running late for an appointment and if I am frustrated and angry, I have given up my serenity and my peace of mind to a traffic jam over which I have no control.
If any of us doubt this wisdom, let us repeat tomorrow morning, "I will have a lousy day," five times. Guess what, this will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, if we tell ourselves this will be a day of miracles and something wonderful will happen, the probability is much greater that yes indeed it will be creative and a fulfilling day.
So, I think we are learning from each other that there are no simple solutions, there are no quick fixes, but by reframing the way we view a problem we can better retain our serenity and peace of mind because after all, if our health deteriorates, nothing else really matters.
The buck does stop with us and to a very real extent we need to be proactive and assertive in securing, maintaining, and nurturing our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being.
Written by Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
March 18, 2008 and published on http://www.mayoclinic.com/health
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Have to thank one of those horrendous emails that circulates the world for this, but I thought it good philosophy for life:
A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?'
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.' He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. ' 'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'
'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'
So, my friend, put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while. Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have
a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late. The second
mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one
person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have an awesome day!
A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?'
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.' He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. ' 'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'
'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'
So, my friend, put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while. Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have
a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late. The second
mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one
person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have an awesome day!
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