STRESS Relief

Posted by:
Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

We all know what helps us relax, whether it’s a walk on the beach watching the pelicans glide just above the waves, a stroll down a wooded path listening to the birds singing or sitting in your backyard watching the antics of a couple of squirrels. Knowing what helps you relax is only half the battle. You have to remember to take time for that relaxation. Stress relief should be one of your top priorities when it comes to your health.

Stress makes you susceptible to a variety of ailments and aggravates existing ailments. If you don’t believe me, Google the word stress and you will find a great deal of research has been done on the topic and how it affects your health.

Job searching is stressful, being unemployed is stressful, having financial problems…you get the idea. A new stressor is fast approaching, the holiday season. It creates its own special brand of stress.

So remember to schedule time for yourself. Time where all you do is breathe deeply and relax, clear your mind of all that’s going on in your life and just be. Stop and smell the roses, watch the birds, smell the salt air of the sea or whatever it is that helps you relieve stress.

Are You A Worry Wart?

Posted by: Darlene Duncan. CWDP. JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

What do you worry about?

Here’s a list of some of the most common things people worry about.

Money
Keeping a job
Getting a job
Health issues
The economy

If these aren’t things you worry about, mentally add whatever it is you worry about to the list.

Now look over the entire list. Think about each item for a moment. Answer this question. Will my worry have a positive effect on the outcome of (fill in the blank with whatever you worry about)?

For example, is worrying about being laid off going to prevent it from happening? Probably not. There are those times when it doesn’t matter how good a job you do or how valuable you are to the company, they’re going to lay you off. Is worrying about it going to help? No. Instead, do something about it. What can you do?

There are a couple of things. One, find out if there’s any way you can stay with the company. Can you become more valuable by doing extra things? Maybe you know how to do your job and someone else’s too. Once you have exhausted the possibility of keeping your job and have learned that it’s just not going to happen, start looking for that new job now, while you still have a job. Because, believe it or not, it’s easier to find a job when you already have a job.

The reality is that the majority of the things we worry about never come to pass. With that in mind, I have a suggestion for you. Stop worrying about things you have no control over. Instead, use that worry energy to take action. It’s really very simple. I didn’t say it was easy, I said it was simple. How simple? Every time you catch yourself worrying about something you have no control over, STOP. We all do self-talk, whether you admit it or not. So ask yourself, what can I do that could have a positive effect on this issue? Once you have the answer to that question you can move forward by beginning to take action.

Less worry equals less stress; less stress is good for your health. The better you feel, the more energy you have and the better you present yourself to potential employers.

Bottom line, stop worrying about things you have no control over and get busy doing things to improve your situation.

A Depressing Time for Many

Posted by Suzy Kridner
CBE Administrative Assistant

Joblessness, home foreclosures, bankrupty, lack of health insurance -- any one of them can cause depression.
These are definitely trying times for many people. While job forecasts are slightly more positive, many people are still suffering the effects of the poor economy, often leading to bouts of depression. It's hard to keep a positive attitude spending hours looking for a job, with no success.
And even though you have a job, it may not be a fulfilling one and that too can cause depression.
Psychologist Jerry Kennard of York, England, says an episode of low mood/depression, whether or not technically classified as clinical depression, can last for months.
But Kennard says there are things you can do to protect yourself and possibly even shorten the time of your discomfort.
Read the following article to things to avoid or change when you are depressed.