SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
Might
As Well Face It, I'm Addicted To STRESS!
October
is upon us and for those of you like me who
file income tax extensions…the
jig is up!
Why
on earth do I do this to myself each year? It is
not like I am less busy now than I am in April.
It ‘s not like I suddenly have more time to devote
to all that paperwork. In fact, I am probably more
busy now, but the IRS just won’t let me keep
extending.
In
addition to dealing with taxes, October is notoriously
my biggest speaking month. This year it is filled with
corporate workshops, women’s conferences, meetings
and luncheons, after-dinner keynotes and a board retreat.
And then there are a few family events…there’s
my dad’s 98th birthday (don’t do the math…I
was a late-in-life- baby!), my parents 70th wedding
anniversary, and my daughter’s engagement party
(Oh how I wish!).
With
so much on my “to do” list, I am
wound up tight these days. Interestingly, I am also
at my most productive. I am buzzing around like a baby
hornet getting everything done…and more. I have
even found time to clean out my closets, hand wash
my car, and test out a fabulous new soup recipe I got
from Rachel Rae, on the Cooking Channel.) It is almost
like I can’t get things done, unless I am stressed.
I am beginning to think that I am a stress addict.
This stress addiction is not a new phenomenon for
me. I have been living like this most of my life. I
have come to accept that I purposefully let things
get so down to the wire that I work and live frenzied
spurts. I am less productive during the down times,
and the absolute best work comes out of me the closer
I get to a deadline. Around deadlines, the adrenalin
kicks in and my creative juices start churning.
I
require less sleep. I forget about eating. I don’t
waste time talking on the phone or listening to what
my family members have to say. It’s that fight
or flight theory, where that “danger-is-upon-us” or ”hormone
rush” takes over. For me, it’s the power
of stress gets me exhilarated . Please don’t
tell Robert Palmer, ‘cause I might as well face
it I’m, Addicted to Stress!
While
all this productivity stress may sound like a good
thing, like all addictions there can be some
pretty dramatic side effects. When the stress hormones
are pumped into the blood stream at increased levels
over a period of time, stress can cause heart disease,
ulcers, and weaken our immune system…not to mention
provoke obnoxious, combative behavior.
While we are manically flying around trying to get
it all done, we tend to “catastrophize” and “awfulize” everything
that gets in our way. Sadly, our behavior can affect
our loved ones, friends and coworkers. “Don’t
get in mom’s way today, she is freaking out!” Or
maybe you have experienced an office manager who
starts to panic over every little hitch in the workday.
So for those of us who tend to invite more stress
into our lives, here are some suggestions on how to
channel controlled stress and use it to your competitive
advantage without breaking a blood vessel or blasting
out at family members, friends, and co-workers:
1. Know your personal stress level and stay within
your stress boundaries. Feeling challenged or stretched
is good, but feeling overwhelmed is not.
2.
When you are overloaded, don’t panic and
bite off the head of the next passerby. Stop, close
your eyes, breathe deeply through your nose, hold it
for a few seconds and slowly breathe out making sure
that your exhale is twice or three times as long as
you’re the inhale. Do this 10 times. Deep breathing
isn’t just the hip yogic thing to do, it suppresses
your voluntary nervous system and shuts off our adrenaline
flow, which is key to stress. In a sense you are turning
off your internal panic button.
3.
Focus. Focus. Focus. Once the panic button is turned
off, focus on the real objective. Get a mental plan
and get going. Don’t be paralyzed by stress.
4. Be nice. People who are the most likely to suffer
from heart attacks are those who are constantly in
conflict with others. And why not ask for help? Next
time you are facing a deadline or trying to close on
a big project, enlist the support of coworkers and/or
family members and do it together.
5.
Know when to let go. Just because you have 100 things
on your “to do” list, doesn’t
mean that every item is critical. Learn to prioritize
and don’t get allow yourself to get stressed
out for no good reason.
6.
Get into action and turn up the music. If you are
a stress junkie you’ve got to do the moves. Did
you know that rhythm reduces anxiety? Get into a Jazzercise
class and start sweating away the stress. You’ll
have fun, laugh a little, connect to music you may
never hear on your radio station, and lower your blood
pressure.
7.
Don’t be afraid to shut it down! Relax, regroup,
and factor in some fun. Oh, and one last thing…
8. STOP PROCRASTINATING. Enough said.
Well,
writing this article is all the fun that I can have
today. I guess I better start on my taxes. Just
10 long breaths, a bit of focusing, and inviting my
neighbor over for a little help and WOW time for fun!
Until next month…
Q&A
Continued...
The fashion rules for fall 2004
1. Clean out your closet and get rid of all the frumpy
styles. Usually that means clothes that are more than
10 years old. The last decade has been revolutionary
as far as fabrics and fit. Your old tweed jacket is
boxy and has big shoulder pads.
2.
Buy something tweed. Tweed looks best in small packages.
A tweed jacket, pair of shoes or a purse will make
the statement that you are in the fashion know~ 3. Do not buy a tweed suit. Buy the jacket and mix
it with a great new pant. If you wear the new tweed
jacket with a matching skirt or a baggy pant you will
look like a frump.
4. Team up a cardigan and a pencil skirt and add a
piece of estate jewelry. Brooches have made a huge
comeback. The freshest way to wear major jewelry this
fall is to pair it up with casual looks.
5. Become a mix master. This fall you’ve
got to mix it up. The trick is to look like your
style
evolved instead of being carefully planned out.
6. Buy a new poncho and look great during down time.
There are several great poncho styles; the turtle neck
poncho, asymmetrical style that look great for both
daytime and evening, cashmere for that soft luxe look,
Cable knit to mix with jeans, crochet flower power
for the girly girl look
7. Your hair is key in avoiding the
frump factor. A modern hair style will keep you safe.
Invest in a
good cut, style and color for fall. A frumpy hair do
combined with a tie blouse or turtle neck poncho…ouch!
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