According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “80-90% of your primary health challenges are preventable and approximately 90% of them are stress-related.” The WHO also termed heart attacks the 20
th century epidemic and predicted that depression would become the 2
nd leading killer disease globally by 2020 and leading killer disease by 2030 mainly as a result of socio-economic stress.
In a landmark 20-year study conducted by the University of London, it was also concluded that “unmanaged reactions to stress were a more dangerous risk factor for cancer and heart diseases than chronic smoking, alcoholism and high blood cholesterol.”
Here are a few tips for managing stress when you are caught in that traffic snarl or boxed-in at work.
When there is anxiety or anger in rush-hour traffic, the mind wanders with thoughts like “I don’t know if I’ll make it there before 8am,” “I’m not seeing any improvement in the traffic yet,” it leads to the pumping of stress hormones into your system which wears you out.
Anxiety or anger is the chief culprit in any energy draining associated with road traffic stress and you must train yourself to be its master. Progressive muscle relaxation, a technique developed by an American physician Edmund Jacobson in the early 1920’s reduces anxiety by tensing and relaxing muscle groups alternatively. It’s easy to learn, simple to do, and works to keep you relaxed.
Keep your eyes closed and tense your different muscle groups in an alternating sequence (keep your eyes open if you’re the driver but focus on the sensations) e.g tense each of your legs, abdomen, chest, arms and face muscles for about ten seconds each and release them for about twenty seconds before going to the next group of muscles e.g from the legs up to the facial muscles step-wisely.
You’ll experience a warmth and sensations of heaviness throughout your relaxed muscles after they’re tensed and released. This ultimately induces a mental relaxation that with practice, can effectively help you relax, deter anxiety or anger when it’s becoming unhealthy and conserve your energy for more profitable pursuits. Your anxiety or anger in that ‘everlasting’ traffic to and from work is a bigger but controllable stressor to you than the traffic itself that may not be controllable. Watch it!
In several studies, even chronic headache sufferers experienced a 50% reduction in pain and frequency using this relaxation technique.
Culled from “Stress to Wellness” by Dr Deji Osasona
About the Author: Ngozi Princewill Utchay is a Business/Social Etiquette and Image Consultant, who counts several blue-chip organisations amongst her distinguished clientele. A gifted speaker, event host, and author of several published articles as well as a popular Columnist with Genevieve Magazine, She is also the CEO, Artelier Lifestyle Consultants. The values of authenticity, excellence and leadership which Ngozi holds dear, are the driving force behind all she does. – See more at: http://connectnigeria.com/articles/2014/03/04/body-language-mistakes-to-avoid/#sthash.FpHP0cAU.dpuf
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This article was first published on 2nd May 2014
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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “80-90% of your primary health challenges are preventable and approximately 90% of them are stress-related.” The WHO also termed heart attacks the 20th century epidemic and predicted that depression would become the 2nd leading killer disease globally by 2020 and leading killer disease by 2030 mainly as a result of socio-economic stress.
In a landmark 20-year study conducted by the University of London, it was also concluded that “unmanaged reactions to stress were a more dangerous risk factor for cancer and heart diseases than chronic smoking, alcoholism and high blood cholesterol.”
Here are a few tips for managing stress when you are caught in that traffic snarl or boxed-in at work.
When there is anxiety or anger in rush-hour traffic, the mind wanders with thoughts like “I don’t know if I’ll make it there before 8am,” “I’m not seeing any improvement in the traffic yet,” it leads to the pumping of stress hormones into your system which wears you out.
Anxiety or anger is the chief culprit in any energy draining associated with road traffic stress and you must train yourself to be its master. Progressive muscle relaxation, a technique developed by an American physician Edmund Jacobson in the early 1920’s reduces anxiety by tensing and relaxing muscle groups alternatively. It’s easy to learn, simple to do, and works to keep you relaxed.
Keep your eyes closed and tense your different muscle groups in an alternating sequence (keep your eyes open if you’re the driver but focus on the sensations) e.g tense each of your legs, abdomen, chest, arms and face muscles for about ten seconds each and release them for about twenty seconds before going to the next group of muscles e.g from the legs up to the facial muscles step-wisely.
You’ll experience a warmth and sensations of heaviness throughout your relaxed muscles after they’re tensed and released. This ultimately induces a mental relaxation that with practice, can effectively help you relax, deter anxiety or anger when it’s becoming unhealthy and conserve your energy for more profitable pursuits. Your anxiety or anger in that ‘everlasting’ traffic to and from work is a bigger but controllable stressor to you than the traffic itself that may not be controllable. Watch it!
In several studies, even chronic headache sufferers experienced a 50% reduction in pain and frequency using this relaxation technique.
Culled from “Stress to Wellness” by Dr Deji Osasona
About the Author: Ngozi Princewill Utchay is a Business/Social Etiquette and Image Consultant, who counts several blue-chip organisations amongst her distinguished clientele. A gifted speaker, event host, and author of several published articles as well as a popular Columnist with Genevieve Magazine, She is also the CEO, Artelier Lifestyle Consultants. The values of authenticity, excellence and leadership which Ngozi holds dear, are the driving force behind all she does. – See more at: http://connectnigeria.com/articles/2014/03/04/body-language-mistakes-to-avoid/#sthash.FpHP0cAU.dpuf
