Reducing Stress - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Jeff Lebowski · 06-20-2006, 09:43 PM

In the spirit of DHU's questions on heart rate, I have been thinking about stress quite a bit lately (my blood pressure is a bit high). We are always advised that we will be healthier, happier, and live longer if we reduce stress in our lives. Well, that's great; but how do we go about doing that? It's not as if stress is like alcohol or high-fat foods or some other vice that we can simply choose to avoid. How do you magically eliminate stress?

Perhaps you could quit your high-stress job and start working in a simple menial-labor environment (like the guy in American Beauty - what a great film). Sounds swell, but then you have new financial problems which most likely lead to more stress.

Start saying "no" to church callings? Not a bad idea. Might get you some guilt stress, though.

Relationship stress? Not an issue for me currently. But once again: easier said than done. You can't just flip a switch.

How about it, folks? Any thoughts/ideas?

DirtyHippieUTE · 06-20-2006, 10:09 PM

There are several things you can do.

Most of them are touchy feely things or things from Eastern Philosophy. Some people get really into self dialog or some form of progressive relaxation. It's all out there.

For me personally... It's all about taking breaks at the right time.

For example... Let's say I'm behind at work. I've got a 1 hour lunch. I can:
a- Work thru lunch at my desk
b- Go to lunch
c- A combination of the two.

I do option C. I take 30 minutes to get out of the office, take a walk sit in my car, listen to my ipod, whatever... Then I take that other 30 minutes and go back to work.

I find that I can get more done in the 30 minutes after a break than I can if I spend the whole hour sitting at my desk.

Everybody has little rituals. All you need to do is find one that works for you.

SoCalCoug · 06-21-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeboy

In the spirit of DHU's questions on heart rate, I have been thinking about stress quite a bit lately (my blood pressure is a bit high). We are always advised that we will be healthier, happier, and live longer if we reduce stress in our lives. Well, that's great; but how do we go about doing that? It's not as if stress is like alcohol or high-fat foods or some other vice that we can simply choose to avoid. How do you magically eliminate stress?

Perhaps you could quit your high-stress job and start working in a simple menial-labor environment (like the guy in American Beauty - what a great film). Sounds swell, but then you have new financial problems which most likely lead to more stress.

Start saying "no" to church callings? Not a bad idea. Might get you some guilt stress, though.

Relationship stress? Not an issue for me currently. But once again: easier said than done. You can't just flip a switch.

How about it, folks? Any thoughts/ideas?

Sex . . . or so I hear.

bluegoose · 06-21-2006, 03:28 PM

For me personally, exercise is a huge part of stress relief. There are very few times throughout the day that I don't think about some form of work-related stress, but exercise is one of them. Starting the day off with a couple of hours on the bike does wonders for my mental health.

I used to often work straight through lunch, but found that I was never able to unwind at all for those 9 or 10 hours through the day. Now I make it a point to spend at least 30 minutes of every lunch hour chilling out, trying to not think at all about work.

Spending time playing with the kids after work also does wonders for me.

With regards to church callings, a mutual friend of SteelBlue and mine says he never turns down a calling. Theres too much guilt associated with that. He just does a half-fast job at whatever he gets called to and finds himself released from his assignment shortly thereafter. Not something I recommend, but it worked for him.

Jeff Lebowski · 06-21-2006, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalCoug

Sex . . . or so I hear.

Hmmmm.... Maybe I should give that a shot.

DirtyHippieUTE · 06-21-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homeboy

Hmmmm.... Maybe I should give that a shot.

Probably shouldn't while you're at work... And when you do... I suggest a partner...

Jeff Lebowski · 06-21-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

For me personally, exercise is a huge part of stress relief. There are very few times throughout the day that I don't think about some form of work-related stress, but exercise is one of them. Starting the day off with a couple of hours on the bike does wonders for my mental health.

I work out every day. Yes, it helps. I especially enjoy racquetball.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

I used to often work straight through lunch, but found that I was never able to unwind at all for those 9 or 10 hours through the day. Now I make it a point to spend at least 30 minutes of every lunch hour chilling out, trying to not think at all about work.

Spending time playing with the kids after work also does wonders for me.

That's all good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

With regards to church callings, a mutual friend of SteelBlue and mine says he never turns down a calling. Theres too much guilt associated with that. He just does a half-fast job at whatever he gets called to and finds himself released from his assignment shortly thereafter. Not something I recommend, but it worked for him.

That's interesting. Saying "no" causes guilt, but doing such a poor job that he is soon released causes no guilt? Sounds like lots of folks in my ward, actually.

Thanks.

RockyBalboa · 06-22-2006, 04:20 AM

BYU football....errr.......nevermind.

Actually, I'd love to know what kind of things, techniques, and other kinds of things people do to help alleviate stress.

For me, I almost always have to leave the office for lunch. I buy a newspaper in the morning on my way to work and I read it during my lunch hour while I'm eating. It seems to be my brief respite from the day.

I don't have high blood pressure, but I do suffer from chronic migraines. I get 4-5 a month, sometimes less or more. I just started taking a medication called Verapamil that is starting to be prescribed for migraine/headache sufferers like me and see if it helps the blood flow. It tends to be a family medical problem as all 7 of my siblings, save 1 suffer from them as well. 2 of my siblings started taking Verapamil and it's had pretty positive results, but not for me thus far.

Archaea · 06-22-2006, 04:30 AM

Exercise, service to humanity, children, sex, sex, and did I say sex, plus
worship, healthy eating habits, reading for fun.

Jeff Lebowski · 06-22-2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archaea

Exercise, service to humanity, children, sex, sex, and did I say sex, plus
worship, healthy eating habits, reading for fun.

Exercise? Check
Service to humanity? Check
Children? Check
Sex, sex, and more sex? Hmmmm.... 1 out of 3?
Worship? Check
Healthy eating habits? Mostly
Reading for fun? Some. But more free time would be nice

I think work and church callings are eating me up.

06-20-2006, 09:43 PM	#1
Jeff Lebowski Charon Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo) Posts: 9,564	Reducing Stress In the spirit of DHU's questions on heart rate, I have been thinking about stress quite a bit lately (my blood pressure is a bit high). We are always advised that we will be healthier, happier, and live longer if we reduce stress in our lives. Well, that's great; but how do we go about doing that? It's not as if stress is like alcohol or high-fat foods or some other vice that we can simply choose to avoid. How do you magically eliminate stress? Perhaps you could quit your high-stress job and start working in a simple menial-labor environment (like the guy in American Beauty - what a great film). Sounds swell, but then you have new financial problems which most likely lead to more stress. Start saying "no" to church callings? Not a bad idea. Might get you some guilt stress, though. Relationship stress? Not an issue for me currently. But once again: easier said than done. You can't just flip a switch. How about it, folks? Any thoughts/ideas? __________________ "... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

06-20-2006, 10:09 PM	#2
DirtyHippieUTE Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,151	There are several things you can do. Most of them are touchy feely things or things from Eastern Philosophy. Some people get really into self dialog or some form of progressive relaxation. It's all out there. For me personally... It's all about taking breaks at the right time. For example... Let's say I'm behind at work. I've got a 1 hour lunch. I can: a- Work thru lunch at my desk b- Go to lunch c- A combination of the two. I do option C. I take 30 minutes to get out of the office, take a walk sit in my car, listen to my ipod, whatever... Then I take that other 30 minutes and go back to work. I find that I can get more done in the 30 minutes after a break than I can if I spend the whole hour sitting at my desk. Everybody has little rituals. All you need to do is find one that works for you. __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own...

06-22-2006, 04:20 AM	#8
RockyBalboa Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 7,297	BYU football....errr.......nevermind. Actually, I'd love to know what kind of things, techniques, and other kinds of things people do to help alleviate stress. For me, I almost always have to leave the office for lunch. I buy a newspaper in the morning on my way to work and I read it during my lunch hour while I'm eating. It seems to be my brief respite from the day. I don't have high blood pressure, but I do suffer from chronic migraines. I get 4-5 a month, sometimes less or more. I just started taking a medication called Verapamil that is starting to be prescribed for migraine/headache sufferers like me and see if it helps the blood flow. It tends to be a family medical problem as all 7 of my siblings, save 1 suffer from them as well. 2 of my siblings started taking Verapamil and it's had pretty positive results, but not for me thus far. __________________ Masquerading as Cougarguards very own genius dumbass since 05'.

06-22-2006, 04:30 AM	#9
Archaea Assistant to the Regional Manager Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Orgasmatron Posts: 24,338	Exercise, service to humanity, children, sex, sex, and did I say sex, plus worship, healthy eating habits, reading for fun. __________________ Ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα

06-21-2006, 03:28 PM	#4
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	For me personally, exercise is a huge part of stress relief. There are very few times throughout the day that I don't think about some form of work-related stress, but exercise is one of them. Starting the day off with a couple of hours on the bike does wonders for my mental health. I used to often work straight through lunch, but found that I was never able to unwind at all for those 9 or 10 hours through the day. Now I make it a point to spend at least 30 minutes of every lunch hour chilling out, trying to not think at all about work. Spending time playing with the kids after work also does wonders for me. With regards to church callings, a mutual friend of SteelBlue and mine says he never turns down a calling. Theres too much guilt associated with that. He just does a half-fast job at whatever he gets called to and finds himself released from his assignment shortly thereafter. Not something I recommend, but it worked for him.