After Days of
Terror, Now What?
Who among us can
say they haven’t experience stress and insecurity as a result of the recent terrorist
activities? Add to this the already complex
issues in our life today.
Fire "Captain Bob", a 28-year veteran firefighter, has two passions. One is
putting out flames. The other is helping people extinguish stress so they can get more
satisfaction and enjoyment out of their careers and personal lives.
When "Captain Bob", author of Eat Stress For Breakfast, first
became a fire officer, he had to develop a stress management system (a dream team) as a
matter of life and death. Because he never knew where he was going next; he could be part
of some body's worst day. He found these same live-saving skills worked in other's
careers and personal lives.
Here are some "Stress Busters" Captain Bob developed:
· Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the center. On the left side, write down the stressors in your life that are inescapable. On the right side, list stressors you can escape. Just seeing and knowing those things you have no control over reduces stress. Prioritize your escapable list.
· What is a "Dream Team?" A "Dream Team" consists of spouses, partners, friends, relatives, customers, employees and vendors. When people are under stress, they tend to withdraw and try to do more themselves. They are heading in the wrong direction. With "Dream Team" members, you go forward to resolve problem situations. "Dream Team" members will support you and make your life easier. Place them in the major areas of your life: Emotions (spiritual), physical body (health), relationships, business/career, and finance and wealth. Focus your energies and your dream team to eliminate those stressors you can escape. You'll end up doing more of the things you want to do.
· One of the big culprits caused by stress is people overdrawing their sleep banks. People who don't get enough sleep have lower productivity, more accidents, more illnesses and are just grouchier folks. Some people don't know how it feels to be wide-awake or their old selves again. Americans are sleeping an average of 7 hours a night (a third sleep less than 6 hours) compared to 8.25 hours sleep experts say we need. Our bodies aren't fooled! You know you're not getting enough sleep if you fall asleep watching TV, in church, driving your car, at your desk, in a meeting or reading this article. Plug your dream team in to resolve your escapable stressors. You will get more sleep.
· People who are constantly under stress wear down their immune systems, have more illnesses of all types and are constantly angry and confused. But a study done by the University of Washington showed those people who maintained an active aerobic physical fitness program were virtually unaffected by health problems caused by stress. Their minds were redirected and produced wonderful endorphins. Walking just 30 minutes a day can produce great benefits. This can't happen if you're a couch or computer mouse potato.
·
A good, healthy, stress-free life
depends on good thoughts. If you are a born
pessimist, seeing everything as black, you will poison yourself and your relationships. No one wants to be with a living, black, negative
cartoon. This is a bad habit you can change
by your attitude. Attitude is such a small
thing that can make such a huge difference. Attitude
is your rudder through life. Practice not
being negative for five minutes. Then, double
the time. Keep doubling it until you break
the habit. If you fail, start over. Once you can do this for twenty-one days, your
subconscious will be reprogrammed. You won't
die! "Water a drop at a time will
eventually float a whale."
·
Plan evenings out and trips.
Then, follow through and do them. If you
don't plan, you won't go. It's not optional. For your own mental health, it's mandatory. Schedule them on a calendar. The anticipation
before and the memories after are priceless. Go
first class once in a while. If you don't,
your heirs will. Adopt the philosophy; if
you are not on a trip, you are planning the next one.
"Hope
is hearing the music of the future. Faith is
dancing to it today."
Fire "Captain Bob" Smith, is a recognized speaker and authority on stress,
team building, communication and relationship skills, a 28-year veteran firefighter,
author of "Eat Stress For Breakfast" and "Fire Up Your
Communication Skills". He is a frequent talk show guest (completing over 300
media interviews) including his appearance on ABC's Barbara Walters Show "The
View", and has been featured in USA Today.
(888) 238-3959 e-mail: captbob@verio.com. Web site: www.eatstress.com
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