If there is one thing that defines our work experience today, it\u2019s stress. It can be exhausting or exciting\u2014often both. But if we\u2019re not proactive, it can really ding our health.<\/p>\n\n
For several years I mentored a small group of young professionals. We met once a month and discussed our jobs, families, and personal lives. One recurring topic of conversation was stress.<\/p>\n
There were guys at the top of their career and others struggling through rough times. But regardless of their circumstances, they all confessed to feeling under heavy pressure a lot of the time.<\/p>\n
This is the norm. Most surveys show that we work far more than 40 hours a week. One study found professionals who use smart phones\u2014that is, like me and probably you\u2014average more than 70 hours!<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re always on, and it\u2019s wearing us out. According to World Economic Forum\u2019s Human Capital Report, Americans are some of the most stressed out people<\/a> on the planet.<\/p>\n For some of us stress is a \u201cstatus symbol,\u201d as Florence King said<\/a>. It makes us \u201cfeel busy, important, and in demand, and simultaneously deprived, ignored, and victimized.\u201d Either way, we get a sense of importance from our burdens.<\/p>\n Others might actually be addicted to stress<\/a>. It can actually trigger the same neurochemical reactions<\/a> that drugs do. We get used to it, and then we feel uneasy when we\u2019re not under pressure.<\/p>\n Whatever the reason, the effect of all this stress is major\u2014starting with fatigue and running to a long list of physical maladies. It can compromise our immune system as well as our cognitive capabilities.<\/p>\n In other words, stress can make us tired, sick, and stupid. And the longer we keep up the pressure, the greater chance it\u2019ll blow up in our hands.<\/p>\n So what are we supposed to do? We\u2019ve talked a lot recently about the importance of sleep and rest<\/a>. That\u2019s key, but here are three surprising ways to defuse your stress bomb.<\/p>\n It might seem like working out would compound our stress, but it not only dials back stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline; it also triggers mood-boosting endorphins. Instead of adding to our stress, exercise washes it away.<\/p>\n And you don\u2019t have start training for an triathlon, either.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost any type of exercise will help,\u201d according to Harvard Men\u2019s Health Watch<\/a>, which recommends at least \u201c30 to 40 minutes of moderate exercise such as walking or 15 to 20 minutes of vigorous exercise.\u201d They say more intensive exercise is even better, but the real key is doing even a moderate amount nearly every day.<\/p>\n Based on that, it\u2019s no surprise that a recent study found<\/a> people who regularly exercise are \u201cless likely to be stressed at work\u201d and more optimistic about juggling the demands of work and home.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a man thinks in his heart, so is he,\u201d said Solomon. It turns out this proverb has direct application to the way we handle stress.<\/p>\n We tend to experience stress the way we think about it, according to a Yale University study. If we think of it as debilitating, it affects us more negatively than if we put a positive spin on it.<\/p>\n \u201cOur research suggests that improving one\u2019s response to stress may be a matter of shifting one\u2019s mindset,\u201d said the researchers<\/a>. Perception is reality.<\/p>\n Stress does have upsides for personal performance. So the researchers had participants watch several short presentations on those benefits. The result was that the subjects experienced more of those benefits compared to others who focused on the downsides.<\/p>\n Participants who got the positive messages \u201creported improved psychological symptoms and better work performance,\u201d said researchers. So just changing our mindset can reduce the negative effects of stress.<\/p>\n I love dogs. My daughter Megan brings her dog Bear to the office all the time. He\u2019s a calming presence and provides a good excuse to get out a walk a few times during the workday. If you have a good dog, you may already know this, but working with our dogs can keep our stress down.<\/p>\n Research from Virginia Commonwealth University found when dogs accompany their owners to work, their owners leave with less stress than when they arrived. Dogless employees didn\u2019t fare as well. They actually got more stressed as the day progressed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe study compared stress, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and support, and found that dogs in the workplace made a big difference in all four areas,\u201d said reporter Kim Fernandez<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some companies are welcoming of pets in the workplace, though definitely not all. Still, if you have the freedom to do so, it can make a big difference.<\/p>\n\t\tPaying the Price<\/h3>\n
1. Shake a Leg<\/h3>\n
2. Put a Different Spin on It<\/h3>\n
3. Get a Dog<\/h3>\n