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In part 1, we explored the stress factor and established that stress is a fact of life; that we must distinguish between positive and negative stresses and ultimately, learn how to reach our goals without compromising ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Overall, realize that our physical bodies are amazing machines with literally thousands of processes at work at any given second. When these processes are harmonized, we feel well and are able to perform our duties with ease. However, the pressures of life in the modern age have created a huge instability, spawning a whole industry aimed at reestablishing ‘work-life’ balance – so called workplace stress management . I am constantly amazed at how well our bodies actually do, considering the abuses we put them through. In addition, recognize that along with our physical diet, it is equally important to examine our mental and emotional diets in terms of the negative and judgmental thoughts we indulge in daily. Add to these toxic emotions, and we have a recipe for an explosive meal, guaranteed to ultimately take you out!

While we shall examine the emotional aspects in part 3 of this series, let’s look at the next 3 Key insights on workplace stress management from a nutritional perspective.

3 Key Nutritional Insights about Handling Stress in the Work Place

1. Food Sense – I know that you know what I am going to share with you here, as all of us have been exposed to information about what we need to eat more, and less off. Being common sense, it should be a given yet, information or knowledge, without action, will never translate into anything meaningful in terms of results! So let this insight be a clear reminder that the quality of what you put inside this magnificent, one of a kind machine called the body, directly determines how well it works. Were we speaking about your BMW or Porsche, this point would be clearly understood, as we most often spend more time and energy taking care of our cars, then our own bodies.  Recognize that our eating habits have for the most part become ‘unconscious’. We respond to impulses and put denatured, overly processed and essentially lifeless ‘food’ into our mouths, and then wonder why we have no energy and are constantly stressed out! There is a tremendous amount of nutritional information available today to assist us in supporting our bodies to support us in handling life’s inevitable challenges. Yet it is clearly up to you to choose wisely!
2. Lights Out - a major ingredient of healthy, efficient and productive individuals is that they get enough sleep. Again, we all seem to ‘know’ this, yet we do not act according to our knowing. Having become a heavily ‘doing’ oriented culture, we are almost guilty about ‘sleeping’, whether it is enough or too much. Often, we sacrifice sleep in order to fit more activities into our lives, arguing that they are ‘essential’. For a time, our bodies compensate for this error in judgment but ultimately, it will not be able to keep up and crash. By design, we are on average meant to have 9.5 hours of sleep a night in order for our bodies to properly metabolize toxins and rebuild cells and tissues to keep us healthy and harmonized. And paradoxically, when we have had sufficient sleep, we become more efficient and get more done, in less time. Certainly, food for thought.
3. Exercise – along with the obvious fact that our bodies are machines which work best when moved or moving, realize that the type of movement and even the timing of movement are essential ingredients for proper exercise. Otherwise, exercise can create more stress, rather than decrease it. Latest research compiled by the National Health Institute of America, confirms that rigorous exercise must not be undertaken in the evening hours. This is because the body’s natural rhythm is to go into a calming, resting phase. Therefore, running or doing other highly stimulating exercise at that time puts you into a reverse cycle which impacts on your quality of sleep. The best exercise for the evening hours is anything which harmonizes and calms while still working out your muscles; exercises such as Tai Chi, Yoga and walking are excellent for this. Also be aware that you don’t do more harm than benefit when you choose an exercise such as running. If not properly learned and undertaken on the appropriate surface and in healthy environments (ie. Not running on concrete next to a busy thoroughfare), you can end up harming your body in the long term. This is because biologically, running is read by your body as an attempt to escape a predatory threat, which creates cortisol, a powerful hormone that ultimately, will harm rather than help the body.

In Part 3 of this series, we explore how our feelings and their corollary behaviors effect workplace stress levels.

Former Immigration Judge Taron Puri, B.A., LL.B, is a Life Strategist specializing in Workplace Stress Management for Busy Professionals.  His expertise is on how to ‘neutralize’ rather than ‘manage’ stress in the workplace as well as at home!  Through his insightful & interactive keynotes, unique & innovative training seminars, and transformational Life Strategy coaching, he assists you in creating success in your life through awareness. To have him speak at your next event, or to book a private consultation, visit him at www.energyinmotion.org E-mail – taron@energyinmotion.org Ph (403) 278-8358.

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