Managing Stress
Managing stress is an essential job skill for the successful customer service professional, like me. Typically, customer service representatives experience burnout from two sources: 1) repetitive routine requests, and 2) frustrated customers. The combination can lead to stress, unless customer service representatives manage their responses well.
The following are stress-busting ideas to help keep calm and maintain perspective:
1. Breathe Easily
Breathing from your diaphragm oxygenates your blood, which helps you relax almost instantly.
2. Make Time for a Mini Self-Massage
Massage your palm by making a circular motion with the thumb.
3. Say Cheese
Smiling transmits nerve impulses from the facial muscles to the limbic system, a key emotional center in the brain, tilting the neurochemical balance toward calm.
4. Switch to Decaf
Subtract a little regular coffee and add some decaf to your morning cup. You should also consider switching from regular soft drinks to caffeine-free ones or sparkling mineral water.
5. Warm Up
Rub your hands together vigorously until they feel warm. Then cup them over your closed eyes for five seconds while you breathe deeply. The warmth and darkness are comforting.
6. Shake It Up
Stand or sit, stretch your arms out from your sides and shake your hands vigorously for about 10 seconds. Combine this with a little deep breathing. This quick exercise helps loosen the muscles in your neck and upper back.
7. Munch Some Snacks
Foods that are high in carbohydrates stimulate the release of serotonin, feel-good brain chemicals that help induce calm. Crackers, pretzels, or a bagel should do the trick.
8. Try Tea
Whether you use tea bags or loose tea (one teaspoon of tea per cup of boiling water), steep for about 10 minutes to get the full benefits of the herbs. Try chamomile tea.
9. Take a Walk
Try walking to the bathroom or water cooler, or by pacing back and forth.
10. Stretch
Muscles tighten during the course of the day, and when we feel stressed out, the process accelerates. Stretching loosens muscles and encourages deep breathing.
Are you stressed? Find out by taking the test below.
(This test is not meant to replace a clinical assessment but to help you judge how you are doing. If you score as stressed you may need to seek help.)
Answer these twenty questions: Yes or No.
1. Do you frequently neglect your diet?
2. Do you frequently try to do everything yourself?
3. Do you frequently blow up easily?
4. Do you frequently seek unrealistic goals?
5. Do you frequently fail to see the humor in situations others find funny?
6. Do you frequently get easily irritated?
7. Do you frequently make a “big deal” of everything?
8. Do you frequently complain that you are disorganized?
9. Do you frequently keep everything inside?
10. Do you frequently neglect exercise?
11. Do you frequently have few supportive relationships?
12. Do you frequently get too little rest?
13. Do you frequently get angry when you are kept waiting?
14. Do you frequently ignore stress symptoms?
15. Do you frequently put things off until later?
16. Do you frequently think there is only one right way to do something?
17. Do you frequently fail to build relaxation into every day?
18. Do you frequently spend a lot of time complaining about the past?
19. Do you frequently race through the day?
20. Do you frequently feel unable to cope with all you have to do.
SCORING: 1 point for every YES Continue reading »
Stress Test
Are the patterns moving?
Or are they perfectly still??
The patterns are used to test the level of stress a person can handle.
The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling stress.
My Lakbayan Grade
I like to travel but I don’t have the luxury of time and MONEY lol…
My Lakbayan grade is C!
How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!
Created by Eugene Villar.
Snow World Manila
Snow World Manila, located at Star City, features the Ice carvings of World Ice Sculpture Arts Champions. Winter Wonderland Entertainment partnered with Star City to bring the Snow World from Indonesia to Manila.
Upon entering the place, I was really amazed by the real snow, real ice sculpture and real ice slide! Not too mention, I was really freezing. The entire place was -15 degrees Celsius, could you imagine how cold it is? Anyway, we skipped the ice sculptures and headed directly to the main attraction, the 68 meters long ice slide. Everyone wanted to try the slide, so it took us time before we can experience the fun. It was really cold, I felt my feet started to get numb. (I was only wearing slippers). Maybe after 10 minutes of wait, our turn came. To be honest, I’m afraid of slides, but this is a one-time experience, so why not try it. I positioned myself and getting ready to slide, but I felt my heart was beating so fast, then my dad pushed me…. I just screamed and screamed but not because of fright, but because I was enjoying it. Even my Dad and Uncle Nenad tried the slide. It was really fun.
Too bad cameras are not allowed, so we had our photo taken by Snow World’s photographer. (100 per photo)
Above photo: (Left to right) Jeri, my cousin Karen, Me, my brother Nikko, my sister Kiss, and Uncle Nenad. Above us: my husband Monch and my dad.
On this picture: (Standing – Left to right) My dad, Nikko, my husband and Jeri(sitting – left to right) Kiss, me, Karen and Uncle Nenad
We only stay there for 1 hour because we cant stand the coldness anymore. But it was definitely an experience to remember.
For those who want to experience the fun, you may visit Snow World Manila at Star City CCP Complex. Entrance is only P160.00
