Have you ever had a crisis throw your time management efforts out the window? If so, it might have gone a little something like this: You were organized and efficient, moving along at a good pace and getting a lot accomplished. Then suddenly one thing went wrong and threw your whole plan off-track, and you found yourself scrambling to fix the problem before everything else went haywire too. It happens to the best of us!

Crises will happen no matter what we do, and there is usually no way to plan or prepare for them. However, you don’t have to let them ruin your whole day.

The next time a crisis rears its ugly head and threatens your organized schedule, follow these three steps to stay cool:

1) First detach emotionally from the situation. Don’t get carried away by panic, anger, frustration or exasperation. It’s difficult not to, but remember that giving in to turbulent emotions will only make matters worse. Instead, step back mentally and make a conscious decision to stay calm and detached so you can better handle the situation.

2) Avoid forming conclusions about what the crisis “means.” One way we often make things worse is by throwing up our hands and declaring the whole thing a huge disaster just because one little thing went wrong. We make an assumption that just because one thing went wrong, our entire day is shot. Or worse, we decide that we’re destined to be complete failures at time management (or failures in general) because we can’t seem to control the events of our lives. This type of defeatist thinking will only make the crisis seem that much bigger and more intimidating. Instead, learn to see a crisis for exactly what it is: a delay or obstacle that needs to be dealt with. Yes, it may be challenging and frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be any more horrible than you decide to make it. Simply affirm that you can handle it, and your mind will immediately go to work on finding a solution.

3) Ask yourself, “What now?” Rather than focusing on what went wrong, turn your attention to possible solutions. Come up with one step you can take that may help turn the situation around. Even better is if you can come up with several action steps and begin taking them immediately. Be proactive! The longer you stew and fume about the inconvenience and irritation, the more impact the obstacle will have on your plans. If you simply refuse to be intimidated by it, you’ll probably sidestep it easily and keep moving forward.

Dealing with a crisis may not be fun, but it doesn’t have to be devastating either. It all comes down to your own reactions! If you “flip out” and decide it means your world is coming to an end, that’s very likely what you will experience. If, on the other hand, you decide it’s no big deal and do your best to work through it calmly and determinedly, you’ll very likely find a simple solution and get back on track quickly.

Posted by Maureen | No Comments »

Eat to Beat Stress

What you eat when under stress can either fight it or aggravate it. So when you know youll be doing overtime, keep the following in mind:

During stress, your body needs more nutrients. Stress reduces your bodys ability to absorb and increases you daily requirement for certain nutrients.

For example, your body loses more magnesium, especially from the heart and other vital organs. This magnesium loss can lead to irritability and stress-related depression. Ever wonder why you are more sensitive to the noise of that screeching chair or your officemates loud voice? Blame it on magnesium loss.

Stress also increases the requirement for Vitamin C. Replenishing Vitamin C is particularly important as this vitamin helps the body cope with stress. As Vitamin C also protects the immune system, this will help prevent illness, which you may be more susceptible to during stress.

B-complex vitamins, which protect the nervous system, are also lost during stress as the nervous system is working harder during the stress response.

Stress thickens the blood. For older people and those with high blood pressure, this is particularly dangerous as it makes the body more prone to a heart attack or stroke.

Sugar and caffeine aggravate stress. These may give you a temporary lift, but in the long run it adds to stress. Notice how, some time after that one cup of coffee or that one muffin, you will be craving for another one.

Sugar and caffeine can cause instability in blood sugar levels and brain chemistry. Sugar, in particular, depletes the immune system by slowing white blood cell action.

So what is the best diet to cope with stress?

1) Load up on fruits and vegetables. These can replenish all the vitamins and minerals during stress and can actually help the body cope better. Fiber-rich vegetables are essential as they temper cholesterol level increase during stress. Generally, for vegetables, carrots and greens (the greener, the better!) are best while for fruits, those rich in Vitamin C and in other antioxidants like oranges, pineapples, papayas and berries can be considered.

2) Eat foods that thin the blood. Garlic, onion and ginger are excellent blood thinners. Cantaloupe is also a good option.

3) Consider food rich in carbohydrates but not high in sugar. Whole grains, as these are also rich in fiber, can give you that pick-me-up without the damaging effects of sugar. Also good options are corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes.

Make healthy eating a habit and not only during times of stress. A body nourished with healthy food is better equipped to cope with stress when it comes.

Posted by Maureen | No Comments »

Combating Stress the Right Way

One of the most stressful period in history that mankind has ever encountered is the 21st century. Have you ever wondered why the spa and wellness business is now fast booming? People want to relax and soothe their worn-out body and drained mind. To be fair, not all stress is bad because scientists believe that considerable amount of stress prepares you for the challenges you may encounter during the day. Now we know that too much of something is harmful so learn to tame and control stress before it takes control of you.

Relax. Take a deep breath and say this to yourself ten times everything will be fine. After this, clear your mind from all the cobwebs and focus on what needs to be done. Cramming for an exam the next day or minding your office mates who couldnt care less but to dig into their office mates private lives wont help. Learn to detach yourself from the noises and stressful situations surrounding you.

Stop pushing yourself. Trying too hard to make both ends meet is not a good practice at all. If you feel worn out already, take a break. Since when did resting become a crime? Pushing yourself to the limits will only harm your health. Do yourself a favor, give your body and mind some slack. Get a good sleep because lack of sleep just aggravates stress.

All people make mistakes. Nobodys perfect. Why agonize and blame yourself for everything even bad weather? Remember that you cant please everyone and it is alright to commit mistakes once in a while. You dont have to control everything because things will happen anyway if they really meant to happen.

Find a new hobby or pastime to de-stress. Find an avenue where you can divert your attention into something else than yourself. Go to a community gathering, learn a new hobby, pamper yourself in a spa or find time to go to the gym to tone your body. Whatever it is that makes you feel good, do it. Who cares if youre on a saving mode? Buying that dress or a pair of shoes you have been eyeing for weeks wont hurt one in a while.

Be realistic. Being flexible and multitasking is not bad but carrying the whole burden on your shoulders by accepting responsibilities left and right is too much. Dont commit yourself to things you arent sure you can do or you really dont want to do in the first place. This will affect your performance and the turn out of the project, even make it a failure. Learn how to say no gracefully when you have too much work on your plate.

Live one day at a time. Quit thinking of tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week or next year. Take time to smell the flowers and enjoy life. Life is too short not to enjoy. Im not saying that you disregard your future but obsessing about it and tormenting yourself thinking on what will transpire tomorrow misses your chance to enjoy the present. Spontaneity is the key to living a healthy and stress free life. You wouldnt want to age early, right? Taking time off from time to time actually makes you more productive.

Posted by Maureen | No Comments »