Stress Busting — A Guide to Increasing Performance by Decreasing Stress
By Daniel R. Czech, PhD
Peak performers take time to play and relax. Interestingly enough, they are not workaholics. They work hard, but they also play hard. They carefully plan their leisure time to give their bodies and minds a chance to renew their strength and energy so they can be at their best when they do work.
Many top achievers take lots of little mini-vacations throughout the year. Short periods of rest and relaxation, such as long weekends bring them back to work refreshed and ready to get on with their goals.
All of us can learn from this relationship between performance and relaxation. Being active, enterprising, committed and engaged are all good qualities. But interspersing relaxation with work and other tasks keeps a person fresh, energized and healthy.
The recipe for doing things effectively and well must include periods of relaxation. Taking a stress vacation is not an indulgence but rather the route to sustained productivity while maintaining your energy and health.
Each person can do as much for having a healthy lifestyle as a doctor or a hospital. The key to health or sickness lies in individual behavior and practices, such as diet, sleep, exercise, smoking, drinking and stress.
The main strategies in health promotion include stress management, nutrition, and exercise. Stress management is the psychological arm of health promotion and includes a strong emphasis on relaxation.
There are many ways to relax, some better than others, but you must choose one that works most effectively for you. Different methods of relaxation techniques include:
- The One-Minute Meditation – simply close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths.
- Hot Bath – this will relax almost anyone, especially if you take the time to play some soft background music and dim the lights as well.
- Deep Breathing – this simple act automatically reduces your stress levels.
- Reading – a good way to “escape the world” for a short time before coming back to reality.