Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Stress Seminar

I attended a stress seminar with Cameron Johnston on Monday and Tuesday. It felt kind of strange since I had just returned from vacation, but I was on the organizing committee so I couldn't very well skip it. I suppose I did have a pretty stressful month before my vacation, and so I managed to learn a few things.
  • It's important to understand the physical warnings of excessive stress your body gives you.
  • Learning how to completely relax in under 10 minutes is a key skill.
  • Humor is vitally important for dealing with stress and losing your sense of it is a sign of burnout.
  • Regular exercise increases endorphins.
  • Assess your stress periodically.
I'd actually heard the seminar once before (hence the organizing committee), and was surprised that I got so much out of it the second time. I guess you never stop learning when it comes to wellness. I just wish I could be as committed to taking care of myself as I am to taking care of others.

If you want to learn more about stress, sign up for Cameron's free e-course, Enjoying the Stress of Your Life.

8 comments:

  1. Yeah, he's a good guy. He "fixed" me once a few years ago =)

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  2. You guys thought of explicitly applying the Sabbath principle to the issue of Stress? Does the vision of the Sabbath provide us a view for understanding the problem of stress? Attacking the problem? etc...

    Just a thought in that I am in the middle of a series of posts on the Sabbath on my blog...

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  3. Definately. I think it's a key component.

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  4. So I'm curious...how do you relax completely in under 10 minutes...this could be very valuable information!

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  6. the only way I know to relax in 10 minutes is to take a nap!!

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  7. Bekki:

    Cameron took his relaxation stuff from "The Wellness Book" by Dr. Benson and E. Stuart. This relaxing is defined as having a "passive attitude toward distracting throughts, which means not worrying..."

    "The Basic Steps Include

    1. Pick a focus word, phrase, image, or prayer.
    2. Sit quietly in a comfortable position.
    3. Close your eyes.
    4. Relax your muscles.
    5. Breathe slowly and naturally & as you do, repeat your focus word or phrase as you exhale.
    6. Assume a passive attitude
    7. Continue for ten to twenty minutes.
    8. Practice the technique once or twice daily."

    Taken from Stress Management for Caregivers Participant Workbook by Cameron Johnston.

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  8. Glad that Cameron mentioned humor. It's my favorite way of dealing with stress.

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