YOUR BUSINESS: ASHOK NALAMALAPU

Reducing stress: A key to success in the business of life

Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR ASHOK NALAMALAPU is president of iCST of South Portland. ICST develops custom software and provides contract and permanent software developers. He can be reached at ashok@i-cst.com,www.i-cst.com or by calling 772-6898. To top of story

Most of us have stress in our lives. We don't take time to think, reflect, rest and pray to keep our minds and spirits on the right track.

The most important step in reducing stress is to define what we're about, what's important to our lives, and what our values are. We need to choose careers that we enjoy to be happy and productive.

Don't spend time worrying about the past or the future - learn from the past and then move on. Most of the things that we worry about never happen. Live every day in the present moment and love it as if it is your last.

When something bad happens, we can ask ourselves, as Dale Carnegie said, "What's the worst thing that can happen? Why did it happen? What are the possible solutions? Evaluate them; pick the best solution and act upon it."

If we get busy doing things, we don't spend time worrying. Keep replacing worry with positive thoughts. Remember, we all have ups and downs. The difference is how quickly we can bounce back and keep ourselves at the peaks.

"Stress is a symptom of imbalance," said Chris McCormick, chief executive officer of L.L. Bean. "Like anything, the key to managing it is recognizing it before it gets too acute, and then making the personal commitment to doing something about it. For some, it's as simple as taking time to walk the dog or read a good book. But for me, the formula is pretty simple: get some exercise and get outdoors.

"I can't tell you how many times I've said to myself, 'I can't afford to take time to do this,' only to repeatedly prove myself wrong after following through," he said. "And by building these activities into my schedule, sometimes even just the prospect of my daily workout or a weekend hike serves as an outlet. It never fails."

Walking not only helps us breathe fresh air but also stimulates the mind to think creatively.

When the body, mind, and spirit are together, it shows. We'll be content and realize the value of life. Yoga is something that not only helps us physically, but also mentally and spiritually. I do Bikram Yoga. Although it requires a great time commitment, it helps get the toxins out, relaxes the muscles, and keeps weight in check.

"Yoga helped me not worry and be tensed. Ever since I started Yoga, decisions that I made have been right," said Angela Weymouth, owner and instructor of Portland's Bikram Yoga Studio.

Likewise, meditation helps clear our minds. It helps us be more creative. If you have family, before going home from work, take five minutes for meditation and unwinding. At lunch, close your eyes for five to 10 minutes and relax and focus on your breathing. This will re-energize you.

Take time for vacations and enjoy yourself. Work will be there always. The most precious thing in our lives is time. Not money. We can earn money if we lose it. Time lost is lost forever. Take time to love the little things. Take time to do things that are fun. We live in a beautiful part of the world - get out and enjoy it.

Every day, plan for the next day and work from a written "to-do" list that is realistic for each day. As you remember things to do, write them down and prioritize. This will not only improve productivity significantly, but will also tremendously reduce stress. Rather than attempting to do many things and leaving them unfinished, consider doing a few things completely with your full attention.

"Work incessantly, but be unattached to it," according to Bhagavad Gita, a Sanskrit poem that is part of an important Hindu religious text.

If we do not attach ourselves to the work we do, it will not leave any binding effect on our souls. Minimize small talk and avoid gossiping at work to improve productivity.

Strive to focus on the present. This is hard, as our minds continually bring forth many thoughts.

"There is a resolution to every problem," said Rich Pattenaude, president of the University of Southern Maine.

"Keep focused on the current task at hand and push away any thoughts that might interrupt concentration."

Eat healthy food, too. Some foods make us feel drowsy and lazy. Experiment to see what makes you feel your best. Remember, we "eat to live" not "live to eat."

Lack of sleep not only makes us tired during the day but also creates stress. Watching TV or working on the computer before going to bed will stimulate our minds and doesn't help us sleep soundly. Reading a book and calming down before going to bed will help us to sleep well.

To conclude, we can learn to control our stress by focusing on the present, not worrying about many things, planning, eating healthy, exercising, thinking positively, relaxing and prioritizing tasks. By doing this, we can enjoy, to the fullest, this precious life.

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