NEVER WORRIED NEVER HURRIED

When one does not have regular and punctual habits, one is bound to be late for one’s duties. This causes anxiety which in turn results in stress and anger. The stress when prolonged leads to depression.

Stress can cause a myriad of conditions from skin disorders, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure and head-ache to nervous break downs and heart attacks.

The signs of stress can be listed as – disturbed sleep or insomnia, constant tiredness, incessant worry, over eating, irritability, lack of appetite, nausea, fainting, tendency to sweat for no obvious reasons, frequent crying or desire to cry, head-aches, frequent indigestion.

As stress is cumulative, one or many of these may erupt suddenly causing more depression. Stress symptoms can be friends’ warning us to re-examine our life style. Stress can be due to over work, being unable to meet targets, financial worries etc. There is a seven-step-strategy to combat stress.

1. TAKE ACTION : One should identify the underlying stress factors and should do something about them. The first and foremost thing to combat is regular exercise. Even after that, if the stress persists, one should pinpoint where the dissatisfaction lies. Action is far better than brooding.
2. EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS : Avoid isolation. Try to communicate with others. Don’t bottle up your feelings. Find a way to express your anger and hostility. Talking to your friend or some other intimate one might be the answer.
3. REVIEW PRIORITIES : Stand back and take a look at your values and priorities. You may be suffering from self-inflicted wounds. Fresh vision of your priorities can clear your mind of confusion and stress. Balance work with recreation. Abandon “All work, no play” ethic.
4. ACCEPT WHAT CAN’T BE CHANGED : Seek the courage to change things that can be changed and the serenity to accept things that can’t be changed and the wisdom to know the difference.
5. PUT YOUR EXPERIENCE TO GOOD USE : Use your sufferings to become more sympathetic to others who are suffering. Sympathy for the suffering and serving them makes you immensely happy.
6. CHECK YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT : Don’t accept or set yourself unrealistic dead lines. Remember that too tight a programme for the time available is the major cause of management stress. Delegation and methodical work are the solutions.
7. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS NOT AFFLICTIONS : Concentrate on the present. Avoid dwelling on the past events or future uncertainties.

Worry is always a potential enemy, especially when you are feeling tired, when it assails, you remember Mark Twain’s words “I have known great many troubles but most of them never happened.” Live one day at a time, you can’t change what occurred yesterday. You can make tomorrow better by living well today. To live well today one should keep smiling and be cheerful, not worried and not hurried.

- Compiled by Ch. ANURADHA. Librarian