Articles
USC University News
From the issue dated January 19, 2007
Finding Ways to Cope With Stress
As the demands of work and home life impact individuals, many may want to find ways to cope with stre ss.
In a recent Gallup Poll survey of employees, 80 percent said they feel stress on the job; nearly 50 percent expressed a need to learn how to manage stress; and 42 percent felt their co-workers needed help in managing stress.
“Everyone is affected by stress differently,” said Andrea Bardack, a licensed clinical social worker and staff member at the USC Center for Work and Family Life.
“Identify what you normally do,” Bardack said. “Are there alternative ways to do it?”
Beyond the practical steps that involve better eating habits along with more sleep and exercise, Bardack said it is helpful to keep track of meals. Staying hydrated is also important for stress management, as dehydration can cause loss of focus and fatigue.
“Physical cues get mixed up – we might think we are hungry when we are actually thirsty,” Bardack said. “Something as simple as water [64 ounces a day] and a healthy snack can help improve our disposition.”
Keeping a journal is another way to maintain a balanced perspective. “Write down what’s stressing you out. Get it out of your head and onto paper,” she said.
Relationships also should be reevaluated, she explained, as difficult people in one’s lives can provide more stress than support and happiness.
For information on enrollment in Bardack’s stress reduction workshop, call the USC Center for Work and Family Life at (213) 821-0800.
•
•
|
