Grace under fire

THE popular sitcom, 'Grace Under Fire', used to be a comical account of a single mother's travails and trysts with life's struggles.Indeed, our lives are no different, we are always stressed; to make ends meet, maintain successful and enduring relationships, raise good children, have super work-life balance and so many to-dos.

Although the programme offered one a look at the funny side of life, it also highlighted a more serious issue -- the art of effortlessly sailing through a highly stressful life.

We lead lives that are complex and problematic. A lot of this pressure rises from the fact that we have higher expectations to meet in every aspect of life. The stress is inevitable and is so ingrained in our psyche that it becomes second nature.

These tips will help you work better despite the daily stressors:

Begin the day positively. No matter which side of the bed you wake up, leap out with the thought that it's going to be a terrific day. Infuse your actions with a sense of well-being. Things will, even if they don't seem to take off at the very start of the day. Just persevere with that happy attitude.

Live for today and think for tomorrow. Most people live their lives in parallel thought processes. They either brood about the past or fantasize about the future. They don't realize that their actions in the present are shaped by these thoughts. In contrast, experiment by living in the present and planning for tomorrow. This will eliminate a huge amount of stress.

Put things on a convenience mode. This works when you are running errands or are desperately short of time. List out things that can be finished en-route and strike them off the list as you are done.

Take good care of yourself. Take time off to treat yourself well. Pay attention to symptoms of ill health, no matter how minor.

Develop a good support system, both at home and work. Join associations, social and professional. Enlist the support of family and friends. They are great as sounding boards.

Volunteer to help others whenever possible, it's an esteem- boosting technique and an effective stress buster. This diverts attention from your problems, sharpens perception and infuses you with a feel-great factor.

Learn techniques of relaxation such as deep breathing, simple stretches, de-stress walks, listening to soothing music, etc. Make it a sacred ritual and devote at least 10 minutes to the routine. It's important that you spend a few minutes of your day de-stressing before you actually begin working and again at the end of your day.

Finally, have a good laugh at yourself at least once a day! The greatest amount of stress is created when we take ourselves more seriously than we should. Look at the happy and funny side of things. Or watch a really riotous sitcom to get your laugh a day!

SAMYUKTA KODA

samyukta.hyd@cnkonline.com