SGMP

Doing Our Best byWorking with Stress: 

Doing Our Best by Working with Stress Craig W. Hofford, PhD Director, Health Promotion Programs University of Oklahoma OUTREACH Associate Professor, Health & Exercise Science

Slide2: 

The Yerkes-Dodson Curve

Are you the SGMP ‘Employee of the Month’?: 

Are you the SGMP ‘Employee of the Month’?

Let’s start at the beginning…: 

Question: Just what causes us the most stress? Let’s start at the beginning… Answer: That depends!

The Great People Paradox…: 

The Great People Paradox… People provide meaning to our daily lives, and at the same time… provide the greatest sources of stress!!!

Our response to stress is related to…: 

Our response to stress is related to… Nature of the stimuli we encounter Ways in which we think and feel about those stimuli Internal characteristics and qualities that we possess (especially our personality styles)

If you tend to be trustworthy, loyal and responsible…: 

If you tend to be trustworthy, loyal and responsible… you struggle to maintain control in all situations. you resist, to some extent, all the changes going on around you. you are bothered by those who are disloyal to their work and/or their families. you do all you can to support yourself and your family. you dislike inconsistent behavior.

If you tend to be curious, creative and intellectual…: 

If you tend to be curious, creative and intellectual… you are bothered by having to follow the ‘rules’. you expect to be treated fairly. you are frustrated and/or disappointed by incompetence. you dislike being confused. you need to have a good reason for ‘doing’ something.

If you tend to be playful, fun-loving and adventurous…: 

If you tend to be playful, fun-loving and adventurous… you don’t like being a slave to the clock. you are easily bored by unnecessary and routine tasks. you dislike waiting for others. you become anxious when finances get low. you become bored when just watching and not doing.

If you tend to be caring, loving and supportive of others…: 

If you tend to be caring, loving and supportive of others… you become fearful of disharmony. you find it hard to deal with those who are not caring / loving. you resist limits that are set on your time and interpersonal activities. you are disheartened by insincerity. you are frustrated in the absence of romance.

How we measure up to these tendencies…: 

How we measure up to these tendencies…

The Quieting Reflex…: 

The Quieting Reflex… Identify, then recognize your commonly used, internal ‘cue’ words Smile with your eyes and the corners of your mouth Say to yourself, “My mind is alert and amused… my body is calm!”

Slide13: 

Create for yourself… an ATTITUDE!!

The Quieting Reflex…: 

The Quieting Reflex… Take a deep breath inward as if through pores in the bottoms of your feet Relax your shoulders, chest, arms and so on down through your body as you exhale Repeat selected, personal affirmations Take deliberate & appropriate action(s)

How will we know that what we are doing to relieve stress is working?: 

How will we know that what we are doing to relieve stress is working? demonstrates effectiveness in reducing our physiological and/or psychological reactivity reduces our incidence of dis-ease fits our personality and lifestyle involves little or no sacrifice enhances our performance

Lower Left Brain Remedies: 

Lower Left Brain Remedies Organizing tasks Setting goals and priorities Social engineering Making healthy fitness choices (e.g., related to eating and exercise) Time management

Lower Right Brain Remedies: 

Lower Right Brain Remedies Seeking social support Using humor (laughing is like ‘jogging on the inside’) Developing communication skills Managing anger & fear (e.g., through the use of QR)

Upper Left Brain Remedies: 

Upper Left Brain Remedies Creative problem solving Mental imagery and visualization Meditation Journal writing Exploring spiritual beliefs and traditions

Upper Right Brain Remedies: 

Upper Right Brain Remedies Exercise, adventure & games Massage and other complementary therapies Listening / dancing to music Yoga, tai chi, and other ‘active’ forms of relaxation

When given the opportunity, these people often seek to rekindle their adventuresome spirit…: 

When given the opportunity, these people often seek to rekindle their adventuresome spirit…

Using a worldview and holistic approach...: 

Using a worldview and holistic approach... Physical Wellbeing Mental Wellbeing Emotional Wellbeing Spiritual Wellbeing “Wellness”

Our Challenge Is to Keep Our Balance by Working With Stress!!: 

Our Challenge Is to Keep Our Balance by Working With Stress!! Personal Changes Professional Changes Service Changes Implementation

Slide23: 

Create for yourself… a BALANCE!!

GO BIG RED!!: 

GO BIG RED!!

Thank you for sharing this time with me…: 

Thank you for sharing this time with me… For more information, contact: Craig W. Hofford Health & Exercise Science University of Oklahoma (405) 325-1376 Email: chofford@ou.edu