Topic of the Month - May 2008

[Admin]

Stress. For some, stress can be very burdening and hard on the mind and body. Oppositely, some people excel under the most intense and stressful situations.

What sort of techniques or activities do you use to help relieve stress?

Are you the type of person who needs to be under pressure in order to get a job done?

[Nasha]

To relieve stress, I find that sleep is the best method. A lot of times, we get frustrated and say harsh things, or make bad decisions under stress, but ultimately, if we sleep more, we feel more relaxed. Less likely to cause our blood pressure to go throw the roof.
Also, especially for me, writing helps. Even if you can't say it out loud, write it down. It always helps.
Stress is good - to a certain limit. So, sure, I may work better under pressure, but if you go past the limit, then nothing will get accomplished.

[manubanu]

If I feel like I'm about to lose it, I use a quick (temp) fix.

Try to get alone, cut off as much outside distractions as possible.
Close your eyes and let your mind go where it pleases, but try to focus on breathing.
I always feel a little better after this and I can keep chugging through my day.


While pressure is a drive to perform, I feel weird not putting out 110% effort, which requires time and not a lot of pressure.

[sanaya83]

Hmm..Music does it for me..Especially if you're in a stressful environment like an office and can't avoid the work, its best to slip on your headphones and tune out a little..Another thing I do is take a short break, distract myself a little from the problem and then tackle it head on

[Jazzi]

I do work fairly well under stressful situations in the sense that i just keep at it instead of zoning out. Simple things like going for a walk, napping,talking to someone who calms me down and understands me and closing my eyes and taking deep breaths really helps me (Manaz is right, focusing on breathing REALLY helps). I tend to plan out everything so as to avoid getting stressd but end up panicing/stressing out at the last minute anyway!

[Roopkirani]

This might seem like a silly question, but how exactly do you focus on breathing? Do you actually imagine oxygen going in through your nostrils and out through the mouth?

[Jazzi]

This might seem like a silly question, but how exactly do you focus on breathing? Do you actually imagine oxygen going in through your nostrils and out through the mouth?

LOL...well effectively yea! just close your eyes and do that next time you are stressed (slow deep breaths), then let us know if it worked for you :)

[Senorita]

I don't think its about imagining the air flowing through your lungs its more about controlling your rate of breathing. So for example take a slow deep breath accompanied with all the motions such as sitting straight and filling your lungs completely and then slowly breathing out until your lungs are empty again. It should be a 10-15 second cycle at least.

[Senorita]

I think I work best under pressure. It's simply a question of efficiency. If I know I have ages to do something then I'll take ages to do it whilst if I faced a shorter time-frame then I would get it done quicker. But being constantly under pressure to perform does take a toll. I find that at the end of a long stressful day I have a lot of tension built up in my muscles especially my face and head. So when I get into bed I concentrate on each individual muscle and relax. Sounds weird but it works! Same thing if you have a headache. Concentrate on the pain and imagine it dissipating away.

[Number 96]

I definately work best when im chilled out.. I am most creative when I least expect it and when im trying, im usually failing hahah...

[vartamelon]

i go to the gym, let out my aggression, clear my head, its nice cuz when ur there u dont have to worry about people asking u about stuff n there arent any reminders of the things u were worrying about. that n when u leave u feel like u did something productive with that time.

[manubanu]

This might seem like a silly question, but how exactly do you focus on breathing? Do you actually imagine oxygen going in through your nostrils and out through the mouth?

Well....this is kind of silly but it does wonders to relax me.
I'm not claiming this as Manaz's Method, but I honestly forget where I picked it up from.


*Disclaimer*
(This looks utterly ridiculous and I only do it when NO ONE else is in the lab.)

Sit back straight and close your eyes.
(Use your thumb and forefinger)
Close one nostril, inhale and exhale. Then release.
Close the other nostril, inhale/exhale. Release.

Keep on repeating this until you feel at ease.
The change in airflow from one nostril to the other somehow does something to my brain to calm me down and clear my head. Unless I have a cold/allergies and my nose is stuff up... in which case I call up poor Jimbo and vent on him.

Hope this helps and please don't laugh at me!

[manubanu]

I think I work best under pressure. It's simply a question of efficiency. If I know I have ages to do something then I'll take ages to do it whilst if I faced a shorter time-frame then I would get it done quicker. But being constantly under pressure to perform does take a toll. I find that at the end of a long stressful day I have a lot of tension built up in my muscles especially my face and head. So when I get into bed I concentrate on each individual muscle and relax. Sounds weird but it works! Same thing if you have a headache. Concentrate on the pain and imagine it dissipating away.

Haha, and use Senorita's technique with it!

[derek]

Good sex is a great stress reliever.

:-P

[derek]

Good sex is a great stress reliever.

:-P

(Sad, if you didn't know that)

:-D