Comrade Faith Agbogidi - Odibo
Senior Organising Secretary, Industrial Relations

All stress isn’t bad. Stress can initiate change, help us focus on the task at hand, and in some cases even save our lives. Yet, when stress builds up, it can result in the opposites – and keep us from concentrating, and cause bodily injury and even loss of life.
The first tip in managing stress is to recognize the stressors. The next step is to put each of them in their place. The following stress managing tips, based on some old and some new adages, can help you do just that!.

Take a deep breath and count to 10
Taking a deep breath or two adds oxygen to your system, which almost instantly helps your relax. In addition, taking a moment to step back can help your composure, which in the long run, is what you need to work rationally through in stressful situation.

Take a deep breath” and count to 10
Stand up and stretch. Remember relaxation is the opposite of stress. Stand up and smile. Try it! You’ll feel better. Take a short walk. If you’re at work, take a bathroom break or get a glass of water. Do something that changes your focus. When you come back to the problem, chances are it won’t seem nearly as insurmountable.

Don’t think about that problem right now. If you do, you’ll go crazy. Think about it tomorrow.

Stop and think:- Things happen and sometimes bad things happen to good people. If we let them, stressful events can build up, wall us in, and eventually stop us from enjoying the good things in life.

Take the time:- Too often we put the pleasantries of life on the back burner, telling ourselves we don’t ‘have time” or can’t “make time” for them. However, actually, time is the only thing we do completely own. While we can’t “make” a day that’s longer than 24 hours, each of us starts the day with exactly that amount of time. Take a part of your time to recognize the good things in your life.

Sleep on it - Every con has two sides and every issues has both pros and cons. List them both then put the list away and take a second look tomorrow. Sometimes “sleeping on” a situation change the minuses to pluses.

Every cloud has a silver lining: - After all, rain makes thing grow! Ben Franklin found good in a bolt of lightning. Find the good in your situation by listing the negative surges and determining what it will take to make them into positive charges!

Know your limitations:- Knowing yourself and your limits may be the most important way to manage stress effectively.

Dare to say no:- One more little thing may be the “straw that breaks the camel’s back”. It’s okay to say “No”, “ I can’t”, or “Later”.

Acquit yourself:- sometimes events really are out of control and you really are “Not Guilty”. Quit blaming yourself. When you need help, get help: Whether you need help to solve a work-related problem, or professional help to find the causes of and effectively help to find the causes of and effectively manage your stress, getting the help you need is in itself a major stress management tip!.

Other tips:- Get a good night’s rest, eat healthily; Listen to your favorite music; exercise, participate in a sport or engage in fun activity; plan out your time and prioritize; talk to a friend about your problems, don’t hold it in; get a message; take a snap; take a warm bath or read a book or watch TV.