The I Can Do It! Workshop and Conference took over the Tampa Convention Center in November. The conference featured a wide variety of motivational speakers, workshops and seminars with one goal in mind – help people on their way to a better mind, body and soul.
So we decided to share some of the self-help knowledge coming to Tampa with our readers. We have asked three speakers of the upcoming event to answer some questions that pertain to the mind, body and beauty of the twentysomethings living in Tampa.
Second in our series we have Harvard Medical School graduate and licensed clinical psychologist Joan Z. Borysenko, Ph.D., answering some questions about dealing with stress, burn out and worry.
This economy is rough. I’ve been out of college for two years and can’t find a job. How do I handle the stress?
Stress can create a whirlpool of bad choices that sucks you in. Here is how that happens. When you’re stressed, naturally you want to feel better. That can lead to lifestyle choices that are comforting in the moment, but lead to more stress later. For instance- eating junk food, playing video games, isolating yourself behind your smart phone or computer, drinking, doing drugs, or keeping irregular hours-add to stress.
So-exercise, eat whole foods, get out and be with people, sleep at night and get up and spend time out in nature in the daylight hours, and learn to be mindful, which focuses attention and brings you into the present moment.
Now that I gradated and found a job in my field, I’ve been working non-stop to get ahead. How can I calm my mind after a rough week at the office?
Everyone needs time off to recharge. Spend your weekends doing things that give you energy like exercising, pursuing a hobby that you love, making music, being with friends or family, and nurturing your spiritual life. And remember that the harder you work the more you need to build in recharge breaks during the day. Exercising four to five times a week for even 15 minutes a session reduces stress and increases productivity. Learning to meditate means that you can recharge in 5 to 10 minutes by learning to focus your attention, rest your planning and working brain, and let your creative right brain take over.
My partner/friend is stressed as soon as he/she walks in the door from a day at the office. How can I help?
You can only help if you’re relaxed and present yourself. Otherwise you add to the field of stress and chaos! So think about yourself first. What relaxes you most so that you can let go of work and get back into the rhythm of the rest of life? Males and females reduce stress in similar ways, but also in gender-specific ways.
Males tend to need some time alone to unwind. Listening to music, working on a non-work related project or hobby, exercising, reading, for example. Many women, on the other hand, initially reduce stress best through the tend-and-befriend response. Talking to a girlfriend, tending to the kids, even bathing the dog. But in the end, we all need a balance of being with others and having time for ourselves.
I hate my job. I think I ended up in the wrong profession. How do I decide whether or not to make a huge life change?
The process of making a life-changing decision is a no-brainer for some people like Bill Gates who quit Harvard to follow his deep fascination with computer programming, which led to one of the most successful companies of all time, Microsoft. But for most of us, big decisions aren’t so clear and require a period of discernment.
Gathering a few trusted friends together can help. Share your interests and your dreams, what you want to create both in the world and in your personal life. Then invite them to ask questions that can help you get clearer. When the process is over, let them know how their questions added to your insight. When you have a vision of a future that really attracts you, it’s much easier to begin taking the steps that lead there.
Lately I haven’t been feeling like myself. I just feel like I’m caught up in the routine and going through the motions of the everyday. Any advice on how to get out of my funk?
Every day for at least two weeks do something that breaks your routine. Wear something out of character for you. Get on public transport or in a car and go someplace you’ve never been. Eat a new food that you’ve never tasted. Strike up a conversation with some one you don’t know well. Try a sport that you normally don’t play. Take a few lessons on a musical instrument. Sign up to try out for a play or volunteer at something you’ve never tried. There’s an infinite world of possibilities just outside your rut.
Joan Z. Borysenko, Ph.D. is an internationally known speaker in spirituality, integrative medicine and the mind/body connection. She has a doctorate in medical sciences from Harvard Medical School, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the author of Saying Yes to Change and Your Soul’s Compass. Joan discusses burn out, healing and how to fight emotional and physical exhaustion.
The I Can Do It! Conference was held November 11-13 at the Tampa Convention Center. I Can Do It! Workshops bring together a group of distinguished, bestselling self-help authors annually to present and hold interactive workshops. The conference features authors who focus on a range of topics including alternative medicine, weight loss, faith, beauty and aging.