Paidra Delayno

Is the tail wagging the dog? There are days when things start out bad and then go down hill from there. No matter how hard we try, we can't seem to turn the stress tide. Everybody who comes into our office is bearing gifts. Some bit of work they need completed. Yesterday would be fine. The look on their face says better you then me.

Lunch break? Are you kidding? Who has time for lunch. The building will crumble if I don't get this done before going home. I think I still have a home. My kids almost called the police yesterday. They didn't know who the stranger was. I've seen so little of them lately.

Does this sound like your life? What's at stake here isn't whether or not you get the work done. It's your health. A build up of stress in your system can and will cause problems with your body and mind. Perhaps you're even turning into somebody you don't really care for.

Acute and/or Chronic Stress have a long list of things they do to the body. And not one of them is good for us. Living a stressful life does not sweeten the disposition either. Unforturnately, we have to work and cannot avoid the stress. If we kept looking for the stress free job, we might get hungry in the meantime.

Even if we can't avoid the stress, we can take a break from it. We need a break from the job as well as from the stress. Do you have 15 minutes? Lock your door and try these stress reducing ideas. The government gives us a break but it's up to us to take it.

Take a quick nap. Short naps are a fast way to recharge the system. Don't let yourself sleep longer than 15 to 20 minutes. A quick nap will give the mind and body the burst of renewed energy needed for the rest of the day. Sound to simple? In some circles it's referred to as a 'Power Nap.'

For the rest of us, it's simply catching a few winks. Recently I saw a piece on the news discussing some large companies encouraging their employees to take short naps in the afternoon. They've proven where a nap increases productivity.

Enjoy a short walk. Keep a pair of tennis shoes at your desk so you can take a quick break. Walk outside, near trees or a park if possible. Many office buildings have walking paths for this activity. Take in all the sights and sounds. Clear your head while you treat your body to some physical activity. You will come back with renewed energy.

Make a quick spa at your desk. Take off your shoes and using a golf ball, roll it around under each foot as a mini foot massage. Heat a cup of water to boiling. Close your eyes and relax. Sit with your head over the steam. Let the mist seep into your skin. Now sit back in your chair with your eyes closed.

Use two folded paper towels, soaked in cold water, to place over each eye. Lean back for a few minutes. Relax your mind as you sit. Let voice mail pick up your calls while doing this activity. You don't want any distractions. Your mind needs to relax. When you're finished, be sure to check your make-up.

If locking your door is not practical, do something completely different from what you were working on. Find another project you need to do or return e-mails or voice mails. Read a few pages from your newest Loren Douglas novel or short story. Get up and walk around the office. Now approach the first project with new eyes and a renewed spirit.

Work a puzzle. Taking a 15 minutes break to do a puzzle, such as a crossword puzzle, can refresh the brain. Spending too much time thinking about one thing can stifle your creativity. Work a puzzle totally unrelated to your project at hand. The distraction will be just what your mind and body need to rejuvenate.

Physical exertion can stimulate the body. Obviously, this is with your doctor's knowledge and consent. Keep a ten pound dumb bell (or larger if you can handle it) in your desk. (A dumb bell is a small exercise weight, not the person sitting in the next office) Do some curls or stretches with it. Get your blood pumping. I drive a lot and keep one in my car. There are times when I am not physically tired. My mind is bored and causes my body to feel tired. I have a few exercises I can safely do while I'm driving. Don't misunderstand me, this isn't something I would recommend doing in busy rush hour traffic.

For more information about stress and what to do with it, read my e-book entitled

'Take Time Out For Me.' DayDreamin' Stories is the publisher and you can get a free PDF copy simply by e-mailing me at:

ddinpaidra@yahoo.com

Be sure to put the word STRESS in the subject line. Thank you for spending a few minutes with me.