Stress is described as,” that which disturbs a person’s mental and physical well-being (Morrison). Stress manifests by asymptotic behaviours such as mood swings, insomnia, substance abuse, chronic fatigue, appetite ambivalence and extreme cases of drugs and alcohol abuse (Cooper).
Stress is inevitable and caused by multiple factors such as divorce, work-related, death, personal conflicts, marriage, catastrophic events, loss of a job, moving to a new environment, new job, relationship issues, pregnancy, finance, stock market, and the list goes on.
Stress need not always be negative and there is positive stress, called eustress and negative stress is termed as distress. Example of eustress are getting married, new job promotion, getting a baby, it’s a mixture of anxiety with joy.
Albrecht has grouped stress into four categories; time stress, anticipatory stress, situational stress and encounter stress. This would be elaborated in detail during the workshop.
Stress cannot be eradicated; however, it can be managed, ergo the term; stress management was conceptualised. In essence, stress management identifies the source of the stress and advocates coping mechanisms.
On the same accord, stress is managed either positively or negatively, smoking is a universally recognised stress management tool, and it’s hazardous to health but permitted by law. Alcohol is another avenue for stress release, and in moderation, it’s beneficial, but excessively, it’s damaging to the body and mind.
Stress management advocates many methods, and there is no cookie cutter formula as what’s good for the goose may not be good for the gander. Transcendental meditation, yoga, breathing, exercising are known methods however for members of the C-suite, these may be inadequate, and a systematic method is relevant to ensure that will sustain throughout their career and personal life.
Many stress relief techniques can be practised while on the job or at the workstation and quick-fix methods, and this needs practice as each person needs to find a suitable method that dovetails with his persona. Anthony Robbins, the self-help guru who tutors C-suite members advocates finding a few stress release methods to suit the moods of the person.
This workshop will espouse numerous techniques, and like food, one needs to find a suitable palate that meets his appetite.
By
Mr. Noor Mohamed Bin Mohamed Younus
