Lifestyle

5 ways to be stress-free
in traffic jams

“Beep, beep! Honk, honk! It is a task to steer through the jam-packed roads early in the morning!”

Restless drivers and bikers moving around in a haphazard manner; pedestrians anxious to navigate through the hustle bustle, the pleasant morning seems so contaminated with the noise and the buzz of a busy lifestyle. Residing in cosmopolitans, we are not alien to this feeling, aren’t we?

Your time for introspection

Have you noticed that the traffic within us is a lot more than what we see outside? It reminds of the game of Tetris - the piled up blocks that can get you stuck unless you are quick in your movement to make room to move to the next level.

Typically, lack of organization within is what makes the situation seem like a nightmare; making it more stressful. Such situations are common in a workplace environment too, with work being huge and dynamic, slackened by a shortage of resources, time etc – typically, challenged on space within. Stress is basically a product of the mind.

“It is caused when there are too many things to do in too little time and when we are not organized enough from within or when there is a lack of energy.”

So, how do we become aware of stress, before it takes control of our lives?

Ever thought of the traffic lights - red, amber, green lights - within the mind?

If we closely examine the mental imagery of the red, amber, green states during any given situation:

Red, typically, is an indicator of defensive reactions of the mind that manifest as anger, hatred, fear, and control. These reactions create a defensive barrier shutting down channels of communication with the external world.
Amber symbolizes uncertainty, reminding people to slow down and take a closer look. When the state of uncertainty is looked at with “wonder”, a beautiful shift happens; all questions disappear and the situation then is not governed by the intellect. It touches the heart and realization dawns through the mind. Solutions then open tending towards a positive green state.
Green shows the state of a clear mind, which remains in the present and is receptive to the larger picture. This naturally opens channels of love, compassion, courage, and peace.

Some clear indicators that guide us to see how stress has affected us are:

Personal health
Job performance
Relationships
Health or performance of the people we spend our time with – our team, family, friends

While stress looks like a herculean challenge to deal with, it isn’t. A lack of refueling is what creates it. A strong, conscious effort helps pull ourselves out.

Remember to put your glass down

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected that they would be asked, “Is the glass half empty or half full?” Instead, with a smile, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 8 oz to 20 oz. She replied, “The absolute weight does not matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, my hand will ache. If I hold it for a day, my arm will be numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “Stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Remember to put your glass down!”

Five ways to tackle an internal traffic jam

When we choose not to get carried away by stress, solutions naturally find their way to reach us:

(1) Increasing our energy levels

We become what we eat - A well-balanced diet helps us stay energetic.
Getting enough sleep is essential to prepare us for the subsequent day. 6-8 hours of sleep is ideal.

Regular exercises, Yoga and pranayama releases the endorphins in our body and increases our rate of metabolism – leads to a sure shot increase in our happiness quotient.

Going within in silence, solitude and stillness increase efficiency. 15-20 minutes of meditation in the morning and evening helps us get in touch with our inner space.

(2) M & Ms

Meals and meditation – When teams have meals together and meditate, it is rejuvenating and brings people closer, creating a healthier work environment. When the mind is happy and in the present moment, clutter clears out and creativity blossoms.