Balancing Act

This past week I had the opportunity to listen to Jennifer Henry of Liberty Mutual give an excellent presentation on stress management. In the spirit of sharing, I thought I would pass along some of the observations and tips that she gave during her presentation.

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One of the things that Jennifer talked about that often goes unmentioned is that good things and bad things can cause stress equally. Winning a jackpot in Vegas can be as stressful as getting a flat when you’re late for work.

Jennifer pointed out that some of life’s greatest joys can rate pretty high on the ol’ stress-o-meter. Things like getting married, buying a new car, building a house all can be considered pretty stressful times in our lives.

As you probably already surmised, bad stuff will stress you out, too. Divorce, death, work, finances and the ilk are all major stressors.

To give you something else to stress over, consider this:

35% of us working Americans say that their jobs are hurting their physical and emotional well-being.

42% of you think that your job is interfering with your personal relationships (according to Harris Interactive - 2001).

That’s a lot of work coming home to roost.

So now that we have established that you are most likely overstressed, what can you do about it?

The following are some tips that Jennifer shared with the group:

1. First things first - Prioritize your responsibilities
It may feel like everything has to be completed at the same time but the reality is that we value certain things more than others. So pick the order of importance and act accordingly

2. Organize your work area
Eliminate clutter wherever you are and you will be more efficient. Too much clutter to face? Break it down into small doable pieces. Need more help? Contact a professional organizer. I prefer working with Kristin Mastromarino, owner of Livable Solutions and The Organized Lifestyle Store. You can find her website at www.livablesolutions.com

3. Keep your friends and relatives nearby
Okay, so maybe this does not seem like it will relieve stress. Your mileage may vary, but assuming there are quality people in your life it is powerful to be able to vent to them. Also they may have a new way of looking at your situation that can help. Then again, it may be more fun to reorganize your work area.

4. Eat healthy
Okay round boy, put down the Jolt Cola and Skittles. While you may get a surge of energy, in the long run your body and mind need good nutrition to be at their peak.

5. Exercise regularly
The idea is to release tension. So step away from the keyboard. Put down the bluetooth headset and take a short walk. And remember, don’t stress if you miss a day but try to treat yourself well by taking some time for yourself.
If you are serious about your health and wellness, and would like some professional help, I would recommend talking with my friend Dr. Suzanne Ivie. To find out more about Dr. Ivie’s practice go to www.serenityhealingarts.net.

6. Start talking to yourself
Positive reinforcement is very powerful. Focus on what went right and stay away from the stinking thinking. Besides, if people catch you talking to yourself out loud they will probably give you a lot of room to de-stress.

According to Jennifer, about 33% of us feel very little stress. My guess is that these people have already learned to incorporate some of these ideas into their lives.

I would like to thank Jennifer Henry for her time and for giving me permission to include these tips here.

For more information from Jennifer about this topic, please contact her at:

Jennifer Henry, LUTCF
Sales Representative Auto Home & Life
Liberty Mutual Group
101 Barnes Road
Wallingford, CT 06492

(203) 294-1505 ext. 225

or email her at:
jennifer.henry@libertymutual.com