Stress and Work - Coursework Example

Stress and Work Stress spans the whole of human life. Different people have unique perceptions of stress dependingon an interplay of a multitude of factors. The reaction to stress takes into account the physiological mechanism in the human body, the health status of the individual, as well as knowledge for stress management techniques. Work, on the other hand, is the means of attaining professional objectives and sustaining personal goals. If man only works, he would leave some basic human needs unsatisfied. Work and play need to be balanced to maximize the benefits people would derive from both. Work is necessary to earn income to support man’s basic needs and to give one of the privileges for leisure. The objective of this essay is to discuss the results obtained from three assessments required to be completed in relation to conflict resolution, healthy behaviors, and barriers to behaving healthfully. The assessment for health behaviors covers six sections: safety; alcohol, tobacco and drugs; sexual behavior; eating habits; exercise and fitness; and stress control. Concurrently, a stress management technique focusing on diverse kinds of meditation is suggested to be practiced during the course of the exercise. A discussion of the expectations prior and after engaging in the activity would likewise be presented. The kinds of meditation one can select from are as follows: nadam, mantra, koans, pranayama, napanasati. Conflict Resolution Conflicts arise when the interests of people do not coincide. A number of approaches have been developed to resolve conflicts between individuals and groups. They range from avoidance strategies to third-party mediation and intergroup training. Conflicts cannot actually be eliminated. However, its scope and intensity can be controlled. The assessment on conflict resolution revealed that I basically resolve conflicts through compromise. I got a score of 26. I agree with the results in terms of engaging in mutual exchange of concessions to arrive at a decision which is amenable to conflicting parties. I would not like to impose terms which would be detrimental to the other party – as I would likewise not like to be at the disadvantaged end. I perceive this method of conflict resolution the fairest as the solution is acceptable to both sides. Health Behaviors The scores to the following assessments are itemized as follows: 1. Safety – 90; 2. Alcohol, tobacco and drugs – 99; 3. Sexual behavior – 90; 4. Eating habits – 75; 5. Exercise and fitness – 69; and 6. Stress Control – 85. Therefore, I garnered excellent scores for safety, alcohol, tobacco and drugs, sexual behavior, and stress control. Accordingly, the assessment revealed that I am aware of the importance of these areas to personal health by practicing good health habits. In doing so, these areas would not be considered hazards to health in any time in the future. For eating habits and exercise and fitness, the scores revealed that these areas could still be improved. Eating more fruits and vegetables regularly need to be emphasized. Individuals can move into eating more healthy alternatives by being aware of the food groups and selecting food that benefit the body in terms of providing balanced nutrition. Instead of focusing of meats for protein, one could move into fish and food alternatives that give ample amount of protein needed for growth and energy. In cooking, one can shift to 100% vegetable oil, 1% low-fat milk, low sodium, and low fat, among others. In terms of exercise, regular and frequent exercises are needed to complement enough rest and sleep. Exercise and physical activities are needed to tone the muscles and prevent the onset of diseases, particularly chronic illnesses and obesity. Aside from overeating and lack physical activity, there are enormous factors which contribute to an individual’s being vulnerable to obesity. These are: genetics, composition of the diet, frequency of eating, slow metabolism, lack of exercise or physical activity, medications, psychological factors, and even certain diseases. Thus, the assessment made one aware that lack of exercise predisposes one to various health hazards. Barriers To Behaving Healthfully The results of the assessment reveal that cost, family responsibilities and work responsibilities prevent me to engage in health and lifestyle behaviors. With costs of basic commodities increasing continuously in contemporary times, most families opt to give up health activities in favor to purchasing food and basic necessities at home. In addition, compliance to responsibilities often prevents one from engaging in exercises and physical fitness activities. However, the assessment on emphasizing the need to eat more fruits and vegetable regularly is a critical factor to improve one’s health. In addition, although several tasks at home can be perceived as being a form of exercise to improve one’s health, these tasks do not replace regular physical fitness activities. One might think that by engaging in household chores, the required activities for regular exercises are met. There should still be a regular time allotted to promote wellness by firming muscles and tones using appropriate exercises for various purposes. Meditation: Pranayama Long an integral part of many religions, meditation is a practice that is used to empty the mind of distracting thoughts. Beginners usually start by focusing on their breathing. The simplest way to do this is to sit in a darkened room, with the eyes closed, and for 20 minutes, silently direct all attention to the act of breathing. To overcome the mind’s natural tendency to wander, it may help to think the word in with each inhale, and out with each exhale. According to Bryan Kest, pranayama is a Sanskrit word which means controlled rhythmic breathing. It is considered the fourth stage of yoga. This form of meditation helps one to relax through putting one’s mind in focus on one’s breathing. Learning pranayama required some assistance through study and secondary sources. The breathing in and out has to follow a certain pattern or rhythm for a specified time. It relaxes the mind and the spirit. Gardner (n.d., par. 1) actually proffered that meditation such as pranayama changes “the pattern of gene activity that affect how the body responds to stress”. By engaging in 20 minutes of relaxation through pranayama per day, one’s mind is channeled to an environment free from stress and worries. Before going through this meditation technique, I always feel that I am running after something. It is like I have so many things in mind that I want to accomplish all at the same time. Although I scored high in the assessment for stress control, I am aware that there is still a need to engage in some activities that would relax my nerves and switch off stressors at some point in time. I usually go to bed with so many things in mind: thinking how I would finish tasks and activities that need to be done. These thoughts prevent me from sleeping well and having a good rest at night. After the meditation, I learned to focus and prioritize on activities that need to be accomplished soonest and still leave some time to relax. I learned that indeed, these relaxation activities switch off stressors by focusing on peace, quiet and tranquility – which are all needed despite the noisy world. The meditation technique assisted in relaxing my muscles, bringing oxidation into my body organs, focusing on peaceful and restful activities, regaining needed strength and agility to prepare me for another host of daily activities to accomplish. Conclusion “Health is wealth”. This is one of the oldest and most common saying which emphasize the value of good health. The irony of this is that despite ones adeptness in the health topic, there is absolutely no guarantee of perfect health in a lifetime. The basic theoretical knowledge on health, physical education, and stress management appears to be insufficient to enforce appropriate behavioral attitudes for health promotion and physical fitness. The responsibility of looking after ones health is shared by the person himself, his family, and local community. The emergences of issues pertinent to health, physical education, and stress management make health the concern, not only by a nation, but on a global scale. High on the list of self help techniques on brain function is exercise. There is little doubt that exercise has a psychologically calming effect and benefits the heart, lungs, and muscles, as well. Individuals who regularly engage in physical activity contribute to a decrease in health care costs, meaning, they buy lesser medications, make lesser medical consultations, and have fewer hospital stays. Those who are aware of the benefits of a balanced and nutritional diet are more conscious of keeping their weight to prescribed levels. Meditation and breathing techniques, for example, are helping many individuals prevent stress from affecting daily performances. These techniques stimulate a natural relaxation response by diverting the conscious mind from the situation that is causing the stress. Certain exercises, such as closing the eyes and breathing deeply, like what is done during pranayama, affect the hypothalamus and decrease the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, one of the body’s main activators (Reader’s Digest, 1990, 309). The meditation technique brings relaxation and enables one to regain control of one’s emotions. Through training, some individuals learn naturally to trigger this kind of response in themselves. The assessments taken made one aware of the various factors that contribute to a healthy behavior. Likewise, it made me aware of some elements inhibiting the promotion of wellness and good health. By emphasizing these factors that need to be addressed and improved, I can thereby focus on using meditation and exercise to improve my health status. The benefits of exercise, the right diet, and meditation, far outweigh the drawbacks. As long as moderation and good judgment are a part of every healthy activity, an exercise program, correct and balanced diet, and regular meditation can indeed help one to lead a healthier, happier life. Work Cited Gardner, Amanda. Meditation, yoga might switch off stress genes. N.d. Web. 16 April 2010. < http://mycurves.com/uploads/health_articles/594/0702-MeditationYogaSwitchOffStressGenes.pdf> Kest, Bryan. Glossary of Sanskrit Words. 2010. Web. 16 April 2010. < http://www.poweryoga.com/aboutyoga/article.php?artid=6> Reader’s Digest. ABC’s of the Human Mind. Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. 1990. Print. Read More