Handling Stress

ts2Feeling stressed out seems inevitable at times. There are so many factors in any one person’s life that what stresses one person out, may not stress another. And since this month’s focus is on careers, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about stress. For most, the two seem to go hand in hand.

My personal experience with workplace stress is not much different from others. As many of you know from my other columns, I held steady employment from the time I was 16. After my husband and I had been married for six months, I took what was supposed to be a temporary job at a busy physician’s office. I was so excited. I looked forward to getting out of the house again and making my own money. At first, everything went smoothly. The first two weeks everyone was nice and I really enjoyed what I did. But the more things settled in, the more stress I had.

I always kept my chin up and just did the best I could with the situation I had been given. But many nights when I got home my husband seemed to receive the brunt of my aggravation and stress. I was grumpy and tired. And to add to the stress, three months after I took the job, I became pregnant with a difficult pregnancy. There were moments when my husband and I talked about me quitting my job. But I am not a quitter, and with a baby on the way, the money was needed. So, I decided it was time to disconnect myself from stress.

The best stress reliever I got was one day as I was leaving the office. It had been the most stressful day yet. I sat in my car crying after work and realized that perhaps this situation needed more than me or an office manager or a doctor. I prayed. If God wanted me to keep this job, then I needed to turn to Him to help me through it. After my prayer, I turned the music on, rolled the windows down, and drove.

That time every day allowed me to disconnect myself from my stress at work and the stress of my personal life. Even though it was only 30 minutes, there were days where I craved those 30 minutes of solace. The job was still stressful, but I know God put me there for a reason.

ts1There are many things we can do to “disconnect” from stress no matter what the stress is.

  1. Deep cleansing breaths––Yes, I’m sure you’ve heard it before: in through the nose, out through the mouth. I recommend three to five of these before continuing in a stressful situation. It just helps your heart rate slow a little so that you do not become so agitated.
  2. Music––If you are stressed out, find some good, clean music and a chair and just listen, not thinking about the stress.
  3. Take a time out––Time for yourself will allow you to re-evaluate the situation and perhaps come up with a solution that you previously overlooked.
  4. Pray––alone. Find a place where it is just you. No one will interrupt, no one will listen in. Just a place where you can talk to God and let Him know how much you need Him and His guidance and that you trust Him.

Stress can come in many different shapes or forms. Some of us get stressed out over big issues and others allow small things to stress them out. We also need to remember that, often, when we’re stressed, it’s because we’re not fully casting our cares on God, and not trusting Him to take care of us during our difficult times (Matthew 6:25-34). No matter what size our stress comes in, it is never too big or too small to ask God to help us. He may not always lead us to the answer we wanted, but He knows what is best.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

By Sarah Ancheta

Comments

  1. Thank you for writing this article. Letting myself get stressed is one of my biggest weaknesses, and I realize it’s because I don’t fully rely on God. Thank you for your tips and for reminding me He knows what’s best and I should always seek His guidance.

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