HOW TO THRIVE

IRENE BIANCA B. ABALOS

5:00 AM Monday, you wake up with the sound of your alarm clock, check your phone for your activities for the day, check on your husband (if you happen to have so), check on your kid (again, if you happen to have so), have your breakfast and get ready for work, all of these will probably take 2 hours and a half inclusive of your travel time. This has been your morning routine Monday to Friday before going to work and this makes you feel good that your whole day at work will be fine. But what if you wake up not because your alarm clock does its job but because your child cries for no apparent reason? What if you check on your phone to check for your activities for the day but your phone happens to be nonfunctional? What if your daily routine of making you feel good that your day at work will just be fine is not happening? How do you cope? How well do you thrive?

We do things differently, that, I am sure of. In a mathematical equation, just because 2 plus 2 equals 4 is how others do it doesn’t mean 5 minus 1 will give you a different answer right? It’s a matter of how we comprehend, how we respond and adjust to certain things. Living in a fast pace environment right now where everything has to be instant has been exhausting. Below are some tips on how to cope with stressful situations by Liz Markin author of the book “Making it Happen”. Be well prepared. Have a contingency plan for unexpected events. Calm yourself down. Calm yourself down by slowing down your breathing and thinking about how you have overcome similar situations in the past.

Think positively. When you think positively you will feel in control and confident. Visualize a positive outcome to the stressful situation and focus on past successes and hurdles that you have overcome.

Trust your knowledge, experience and intuition. Remind yourself of the resources you have and trust your knowledge, experience and intuition to help you handle the stressful situation.

Make a plan. This will not only help you to ensure that you have covered all angles but will also give you something to refer to as you go along.

Be decisive. It is therefore critical to be decisive and take decisions in a considered but timely fashion.

Take action. Taking action in itself will calm you. So once you have your plan, start to take action to resolve the situation.

Ask for help. Faced with a stressful situation you may try to handle it on your own, however, you may want to get some help or someone to talk to. This will provide not only practical assistance but also reassurance.

— oOo— The author is Administrative Assistant II at Balitucan National High School