I have always been a type-A personality; however, I have learned over time how to better manage my stress. This is certainly still a work in progress but taking the three stress tests was very showing of how far I have come. I previously worked full-time in a position that had extreme last-minute demands, high travel, and no routine. I experienced anxiety and panic attacks often and I was very unhappy. Thankfully I was able to speak with a professional to manage my stress and take greater control over my life. Taking this first step was very helpful in becoming aware of self-care and work-life balance.
Based on the results of the tests, I learned a few things regarding my progress. First, the Type A Personality survey, stated that my interactions with others, while generally characterized by warmth and tolerance, can also at times tinged with impatience and hostility. This means that when I am frustrated or stressed that I can lash out or build up emotions. I was also very concerned to learn about the health risks of type A behavior patterns because it is related to increase in heart disease. Thankfully for my life stress inventory, I scored relatively low on induced health breakdowns. Furthermore, for the coping test, I use problem-focused strategies against stress. I found this interesting because although it is generally ineffective when dealing with situations I can’t control, it can help when the stressor I am facing is controllable. This means that in certain cases, it’s a good idea for me to act to modify or take charge of a stressor to better cope with it.
This really connected to the steps I have and can continue, to take as I progress through my professional career to help manage my stress. These include forming a routine around regular exercise, a healthy diet, and mindfulness practices. Working on mindset was something I hadn’t heard of before, but it gave me the opportunity to self-reflect, greater control over my reactions, and ultimately the direction of my life. Things I do include mediation, yoga, journaling, and engaging in deep conversations with close friends. After conducting internet research on stress and other health conditions of current concern organizations are helping their employees manage their health and cope with stress by increasing greater work-life balance through flexible hours, work from home options, more vacations time, and implementing wellness programs (Berry, Mirabito & Buan, 2011) (Jones, 2017).
Citations-
Berry, L., Mirabito, A., & Buan, W. (2011). What’s the Hard Return On Employee Wellness Programs? . Harvard Business Review, 89(3), 20-21.
Jones, Kerry. (The Most Desirable Employee Benefits) . Harvard Business Review Digital Access. April 15, 2017, 2-6.
