Don’t Eat at Your Desk

There is massive fear in the abstract. Examining your financial reality in concrete terms helps you focus on solutions. How much money do you need to retire? Are you prepared to work an additional two years to realize this or can you adjust your retirement expectations based on reduced cash flow? It is like being in a boat; you can be flung around on choppy waters or you can dock and take stock. Reflect on your core values. At the end of the day, will it be important that you had an extra $100,000 or that you were a good person? Deciding what is critical can mitigate stress due to financial uncertainty.

Stress-busting role model: Friend and colleague from Ottawa who believes that the more challenges you deal with, the more developed your soul is

When Cederberg feels weighed down, she listens to Coldplay or Dave Matthews. She recommends watching a comedic skit on YouTube every morning or a laugh-out-loud comedy at night on television. Laughing increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain and releases endorphins, all great stress relievers. When you are feeling stress, seek out a favourite co-worker. Go for coffee or a brisk walk, if you can. Try joking around the water cooler or coffee machine; it might be a tired cliché but it works. When it comes to humour and embracing positivity, it really is a matter of choice.

Stress-busting role model: Comedian Jim Carrey

Quitting your job might be a pipe dream, but you are in charge of how you think about your job. Incorporate positive habits into your day; for example, the practice of writing down five things for which you are grateful has been found to increase life satisfaction. What is your current perspective and how well is that serving you? Examine where your stress is coming from and target solutions to your personal situation. Are you looking after elderly parents? Is it time to ask about flex-time or job-sharing?

Stress-busting role model: Cheryl Richardson, coach and author of Take Time for Your Life

Get a complete physical. If you are feeling stressed but there are no identifiable medical issues presenting themselves, you will have some peace of mind. Watch out for risk factors. If you are under extreme stress, are feeling depressed or experiencing chest pain, see your doctor. If you address issues early, they are likely to be more manageable and less debilitating.

Stress-busting role model: Federal Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice for his well-balanced lifestyle

Keep the Sabbath. We are whole human beings, who have families, friends and community activities. The weekly ritual of a day of rest gives us time to re-create and redefine ourselves beyond the workplace. And if you are so inclined, pray. That is how we develop a relationship with an all-loving God. Since love and fear (stress) cannot co-exist, building this kind of rapport with a higher power will diminish stress. If you’re loved perfectly, what is there to fear?

Stress-busting role model: Eugene Peterson, author of The Jesus Way

Make nutrition a non-negotiable item. A healthy choice is just as easy to make as a greasy one. For lunch at the food court, have an all-fruit smoothie and a wrap instead of a combo meal. Remember that “bite-sized changes have super-sized results,” says Holwegner. If you never have breakfast, try eating it initially twice per week. Or have a latte, an apple and a granola bar when you are hungry at 10 a.m. Don’t set yourself up for failure by adopting an “extreme makeover” approach; take small steps and build on success.

Stress-busting role model: Her husband for his easygoing approach to life