STRESS: A KILLER?

STRESS: no laughing matter!

STRESS: THE UNKNOWN

INUIT THROAT SINGER:TANYA TAGAQ

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagaq

UNSTRESS: THE KNOWN

JOHANN PACHELBELwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachelbel

%27s_Canon

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: “STRESS: Portrait of a

Killer.”

www.topdocumentaryfilms.com/stress-portrait-of-a-killer/

"The problem in our society is that we don't value stress-reduction; we, in fact, value the opposite. We admire the person who not only multi-tasks and does 2 things at once, but does 5 things at once. We kind of admire that person .... Well that is an incredibly stressful way to live.

We have to change  ... (to) a more balanced and serene life." (33:38)

HBR: DEFEAT (!) Stress

Have self-compassion

Remember the “Big Picture”

Rely on routines

Take five (or ten) minutes to do something you find interesting

Add where and when to your to-do list

Us if-thens for positive self-talk

See your work in terms of progress, not perfection

Think about the progress you’ve already made

Know whether optimism or defensive pessimism works for you

www.blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/12/nine_ways_successful_people_de.html

HBR: Reduction STRATEGY (!)

www.blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2012/07/the-best-strategy-for-reducing.html

Can a cellphone kill you in the Bahamas?

Frustrated expectations

GAP: expectations vs reality

Video: “Everything's amazing and nobody's happy”, www.thatvideosite.com/v/94

Routine responses

Change reality = stress creator (?)

Get a more complete perspective

Scale 1-10; (10 = worst)

BEAUTY: STRESS KILLERTHE JAPANESE GARDEN

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you

are.”- Chinese Proverb

PREPARATION: STRESS KILLER

ZEN PRESENTATION

www.presentationzen.com

“The more you are on top of your material the less nervous you will be. If you have taken the time to build the logical flow of your presentation, designed supporting materials that are professional and appropriate, there is much less to be nervous about. And, if you have then rehearsed with an actual computer and projector (assuming you are using slideware) several times, your nervousness should all but melt away. We fear what we do not know. If we know our material well and have rehearsed the flow, know what slide is next in the deck, and have anticipated questions, then we have eliminated much (but not all) of the unknown. When you remove the unknown and reduce anxiety and nervousness, then confidence is something that will naturally take the place of your anxiety.”

ULTIMATE STRESS KILLER:

U ND

ER S

T AN

D

“PHILOSOPHY BEGINS IN WONDER.”

Plato: Theaetetus, 155dAristotle: Metaphysics, 982b12

QUESTIONING: JOB STRESS How does your company deal with JOB STRESS? Has it been successful? Can you give

SPECIFIC examples? What STRATEGIES has senior management used (specially in crisis maangement?? Do you think economic INCENTIVES are enough? Why? Why not? If not, then WHICH?

What is your take on the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC video? What are your thoughts on the PHYSICAL EFFECTS stress has on our brains and bodies? Is it true we value stress over many other goods? Are the parallels between animals and humans applicable?

Do you know of companies that deal with stress CREATIVELY (e.g., Google, Apple) Do you believe in the option for work sabbaticals? Have you seen the TED talk on this issue: (www.ted.com/talks/stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off.html)? Do you know about the “best company to work for” in the world: (www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ebIGpZIWI)? What do you think of ITS CEO? Can you imagine a manager living WITHOUT stress? What would that be like? Can you become a STRESS-AHOLIC?

Do you agree with the article on “Nine ways to defeat stress? For instance, isn´t the idea of DEFEATING STRESS, stressful itself? What kind of mind are we talking about here? Doesn’t it wish to be in CONSTANT struggle? Isn’t it a kind of vicious circle because we are in a constant kind of war? What is your opinion on the idea that CHANGING reality is a stress CREATOR? But then, how, for example to be innovate? However, wouldn’t it be more crucial to change YOURSELF first? Would you suffer stress in the Bahamas as in the second article? Isn´t this ODD? Can you give personal examples on the GAP between expectations and reality? Does a stress scale help us UNDERSTAND the nature of stress? Or rather isn’t understanding our desire to CONTROL crucial to living a more SERENE life?

BUT MOST IMPORTANT: How do YOU deal with stress?

MODERN TIMES:LAUGHING STRESS TO DEATH

“

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in

long-shot. “Charlie Chaplin