1/31/2013

Simple Stress Test and Tips

What is stress and ...well how should I know if I'm stressed?

When visiting Women's Law of Attraction Solutions I was able to find a "Super-Simple Stress Test", visit the following link to access the test (it's a PDF file):
http://www.womens-law-of-attraction-solutions.com/support-files/stress-test.pdf

Notes from "Super-Simple Stress Test":

If you score high in this simple test, seek help. In the meantime, begin relaxation breathing practices several times daily. Learn & practice positive focus on the present, not the past or the future. *If you had trouble following the instructions for this test, well... you're stressed for sure.

Several years ago I attended a workshop entitled "Customers for Life" and one of the key focus, was on Stress. Below is some information shared with us (I would link to it's owner if I could recall who it was, and there's no logo or contact info on the workshop handouts):


Stress

To cope with stress, analyze what is happening to you. Often it is not the situation that causes stress but how you react to it and what you do about it. Also, the duration of the problem can produce stress. A certain amount of stress helps us stay alert, efficient, and creative. Here are some suggestions for coping with stress that becomes too great:
  • Recognize what your body is telling you, and recognize that anger and frustration are energy wasters.
  • Organize your work and your time for the entire day, when possible. Assign priorities to your duties. Do not plan more than is possible to do in a day.
  • Slow down! You will accomplish more and also eliminate much stress by working at a comfortable pace.
  • Talk out your stressful problems. Find someone in whom you can confide - someone away from the job, someone who is a good listener. Simply talking out your problem can be helpful.
  • Program relaxation into your schedule. Use lunch and coffee breaks as times to relax.
  • Escape to a movie, to your favourite TV program, to spend time with others, to do something for someone in need.
Body relief for sitters

Never stay in one position for more than 45 minutes. Get up and move around. Even a one-minute break relieves muscles and the spine. 

Eat regularly to maintain your energy level throughout the day. A few healthy snacks throughout the day are better than one large meal.

Get regular exercise of the right kind for you. Exercise is one of the best ways to relax.

More resources made available via a different workshop, were references to organization philosophies and... how to get employees to embrace change.

The speakers for this particular workshop:

Sandi Emdin: semdin[at]sympatico[dot]ca
Jan Vavra: janvavra44[at]hotmail[dot]com

3 Philosophies chosen for this workshop were:

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The "Fish Philosophy"


What is The FISH! Philosophy?
The FISH! Philosophy includes four simple, interconnected practices:

Be There is being emotionally present for people. It’s a powerful message of respect that improves communication and strengthens relationships.

Play taps into your natural way of being creative, enthusiastic and having fun. Play is the spirit that drives the curious mind, as in “Let’s play with that idea!” It’s a mindset you can bring to everything you do.
Make Their Day is finding simple ways to serve or delight people in a meaningful, memorable way. It’s about contributing to someone else’s life, not because you want something out of it, but because that’s the person you want to be.
Choose Your Attitude means taking responsibility for how you respond to what life throws at you. Once you are aware that your choice impacts everyone around you, you can ask yourself, “Is my attitude helping my team or my customers? Is it helping me to be the person I want to be?”
Through The FISH! Philosophy, we build stronger relationships with the team members we work with, the customers we serve, the students we teach and the people we love.
Source: http://www.charthouse.com/content.aspx?nodeid=22610

The workshop provided 4 key questions on how the Fish Philosophy could assist when trying to embrace change:

- Work made fun gets done. Are you having fun at work?
- Are you making the clients' day?
- Are you present; are you in the moment for your clients?
- Have you practiced your ability and obligation to chose your attitude?


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The second philosophy was:



The Pickle; from "Give 'em the Pickle" by Bob Farrell


When something happens with a customer and you’re not sure what to do? “Give ’em the Pickle!” Do what it takes to make things right!
The pickle philosophy has evolved from there as it’s been put into practice at various businesses. It may be about going the extra mile to make customers happy or putting your own personal stamp on customer service that sets you apart from your competition. At my favorite tire store they literally run to greet me when I step out of my car in the parking lot. I’ve met garbage collectors who stop to start lawn mowers and coffee baristas who add a heart or other designs in the latte foam. Those are all pickles. What are yours?
Source: http://www.giveemthepickle.com/pickle_principle.htm

The workshop provided 4 key questions on how the Pickle Philosophy could assist when trying to embrace change:

- What's your pickle? (what do you do well that can add value?)
- How do you think about the customer?
- Is your service consistent?
- Does your team do out of their way to make each other look good?

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And the third philosophy was:




The Postman; from "The Fred Factor" by Mark Sanborn

Multiple reference sites:
Author: http://www.marksanborn.com 
FredFactor: http://www.fredfactor.com/








The Mission: Be a Fred
 ...continually create new value for those you live and work with through dedication,passion and creativity.
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES: 
Everyone makes a difference. The only question at the end of the day is “What kind of difference did you make?” 
Everything is built on relationships. Go beyond simply interacting with customers and colleagues to build relationships. 
You must continually create value for others, and it doesn’t have to cost a penny.
You can replace money with imagination. The objective is to outthink your competition rather than outspend them.  
You can reinvent yourself regularly. No matter what job you hold, what industry you work in or where you live in the world, you wake up every morning “tabala rasa,” with a blank slate, and you can make your business and your life anything you choose.
Source: http://www.fredfactor.com/resources/free/fred_factor.pdf

The workshop provided 4 key questions on how the Fred Factor (Postman) Philosophy could assist when trying to embrace change:

- Everyone makes a difference
- Success is built on relationships
- Continually create value for others
- Re-invent yourself regularly 

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In summary, (for the above workshop) the "key points" resonating were:

1. Change (yourself)
2. Accept (without complaining)
3. Leave (if you can't change the situation, or how you think about it - then maybe you need to step away)



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