Fight Stress With Stress

September 4, 2006 by Vishal | 3 Comments

Trying to fight stress by resorting to normal relaxing techniques like lying down on the bed or sitting mindlessly in front of the idiot box is not likely to help, especially in cases where the stress levels are too high. It has been shown scientifically that even when rewarded with enough cash incentives, students could not spend more than two to three days in bed without activity. This simply shows that from maniacal chaos to a situation of total relaxation is not a good idea.

Also, if you are a busy, hard working professional or self employed, then you would know the importance of time and probably hate to waste it just by lying around.

Here’s what you need to try! Changeover to another activity that is stressful but employs a different faculty in your brain! For example paragliding, bungee jumping, sports, canoeing and the like. You will accept that these activities are far from stress free, relaxing ones. They help in distracting the brain from the current problem causing you to forget about stressful situation at home or at work. Ensure that you keep aside a few hours every week for these alternate stress activities. Not only do they relieve you of your current tensions, they also make a great hobby.

While choosing the alternate stress activity, make sure that it is diametrically opposite of what you do in daily life. So for a business executive, playing squash or dancing could provide a welcome relief. For a dancer, a few hours learning how to operate particular software on the computer may be a good idea. The idea is to ensure that you choose something that uses different faculties of the brain.

These alternate stress activities built over time can ensure that you have a nice hobby to pursue after retirement. They can provide you the much needed motivation to go on at that stage. They stimulate to brain to do more. And at times hobbies have become regular earning sources if pursued seriously.

One of the best forms of alternate stress activities that I have found is exercise. Not only does it ensure that you stay fit as a fiddle but it also ensures that even when you are seventy, you can have a heart as young as twenty.

Posted in Stress Management