Stress Management

Over the weekend I learned an important lesson! How to manage my own stress levels.

I have really suffered from stress only a couple of times, most significantly when I was managing 2 companies, both of which struggling, while juggling my massive personals debt.

Recently with the combination of moving house, work, long hours and again a few financial factors I’ve been a little more pressured than I have been for a long time. Though not stressed in the same way as I had been before, I can easily boil over in an instant and feel like murdering someone. Being an easy going and level headed sort of chap I am aware of the punishments facing such actions. I therefore try to avoid getting so angry I kill - it is inexcusable and “anger” will not help me in any court of law. Oh, I also don’t kill on moral grounds.

…anyway…. Saturday morning I went in to town to do a few routine things: Visit the bank to change my address, pop to post office, buy some lunch.
Instead of my planned routine I found myself in the bank, getting extremely pissed off and demanding to see the bank manager. I closed my account and stormed out. Town visit over.

For the rest of the afternoon I was very angry, very stressed, not pleasant to be around and definitely not productive.

Sunday morning the sun was shining and I saw a perfect opportunity to get out and mow the garden. Putting stripes up and down the lawn while Abi and Phoebe tended to the pots and plants was most satisfying indeed. Focusing on them, having lunch together and spending all afternoon in the garden was the first time in a long long long time I COMPLETELY forgot about work. Ridiculous how it took something so simple to put things back in to perspective for me. Then again everyone who knows me will vouch for what a complete fucking dick I can be!

Come Monday morning I was revitalised and looking on the bright side of life once more.

Realistically I can’t take much time off. I have massive work loads and responsibilities I must meet. But its nice to know that by stepping back for just a few hours I can unwind and appreciate what its all really about.

Click on images to see what makes me happy (zoomed in)