“Perfect-10” To Destress

By BADRINATH DURVASULA

We often come across reports of cops shooting themselves with their service revolvers under stress. Is this not appalling? Does this also mean that relief from stress lies in suicide? Does this mean that the rest of our human race is free from stress too? The answer is a clear, big no. The key is we should learn to manage, or avoid, stress in the best manner possible.

Stress arises at three levels. The first is our inability to cope with demands. Second, our competency to accomplish the task is far in excess of our capability to handle things. Third, efforts put into resolving issues come to a standstill, with feelings of exhaustion.

There can be as many variants of stress as there are grass on the lawn, but they all essentially revolve around such a central theme. The obvious question, therefore, is: how do we handle each of these situations?

Crisis Control

In the “Mahabharata,” Salya is a powerful king and great warrior. He intends taking the side of Pandavas in the war. Yudhistira senses this as immense danger. He builds up a great deal of stress. He also frantically discusses strategies with war veterans in his camp, because Salya is known for his heroic virtues and competency in winning wars. Yudhistira slowly entices Salya by playing on his weakness for women. When Salya asks Yudhistira on how he can reciprocate, Yudhistira requests him to be on his side. An impossible proposition, since he has to switch sides. The fact is: under the grant of promise, Salya is obliged to be on the side of Kauravas. Thus, a pre-determined war in favour of Pandavas is skewed in favour of Kauravas!

The story conveys two things: 1. how Yudhistir handles the greatest stress of losing the war; and, 2. how he converts a potential disaster into a great opportunity. He not only destresses himself from the thought of defeat in war, but he also simultaneously induces a great deal of stress in the Pandavas, for they would lose a great warrior -- their own powerful uncle to Kauravas.

Stress On Relief

The best way to handle stress is to be a part of stress itself!

From a management perspective, stress is unavoidable in work situations.

The following strategies would be your ten best ways to handle stress at all times, be it work, or anything in life:

1. Adapt to stress. Successful managers treat stress as an essential part of work culture. Treating stress as a healthy stimulus to deliver key results for the organisation would, by itself, be destressing.

2. Distribution. Stress should be allowed to be scattered, not accumulated. The best way to distribute is to think between different problems than focus on one problem for a longer period.

3. Solution in parts. Aim for part solutions, within a comprehensive problem. This, in effect, would dilute the level of stress related to the problem

4. Respect stress. Don’t run away from stress, as it only gives relief for the short-term.

5. Discussion with group. Share stress-related issues within the group, for the group may have a better understanding of the issue one is grappling with, or they may throw some alternative solutions.

6. Factoring components. Adopting a break-down, or a problem-solving, approach for every stress ingredient is made up of complex variants. Each variant has a dynamic positioning with the others. Resolving one variant will have its own impact on other variants and overall stress parameters.

7. Analyse stress determinants. In-depth analysis will throw up many surprises -- that some of the determinants are not the only ones that really create stress.

8. Migration. Shift stress to non-stress domains -- for the shock-effect to be minimised and for equilibrium to emerge.

9. Stress-busters. Cultivate stress-buster habits, like a long walk, listening to music, participating in sports, involving in a creative activity, and the like.

10. Health attributes. Focus on the right diet, sound sleep, right reading and right-viewing, even if it is the “idiot-box,” as they all contribute to reducing your stress levels.

Next, practice your “Perfect-10” daily. This will help reduce 90 per cent of perceptible stress. The rest is to challenge stress -- because, when stress is challenged… it subdues.

Isn’t this the right prescription, without medicine, to begin your battle against stress and its negative effects? Go, find out for yourself. You will sure emerge destressed and relaxed.