THE TOP 10 WAYS TO MAKE YOURSELF STRESSED AND DEPRESSED
1. No life balance
The percentage of Americans who are not taking vacations continues to rise. Because of financial stress and needing to do more work in a downsized workforce, personal down time is seen as an option rather than a necessity.
2. Poor Money management
The leading cause of divorce today is financial stress; in particular, overspending. Little or no knowledge is sought out as to how to attain financial freedom.
3. Become a stress eater
Obesity rates among adults and children continue to rise. One reason is the everyday stresses and overextended schedules that keep people eating on the run, which usually means poor food choices. Gaining weight only adds to physical and emotional stress.
4. Isolate yourself
If you do not live close to other family members, it is easy to become isolated and not get connected with others outside of work. Build relationships with neighbors, a faith community, community sports programs, etc.
5. Hate your job
70% of the workforce is disengaged (Gallup, 2004), which means more people don’t like what they do for a living. Take time to evaluate your passions and talents, and see if they fit with your current position. If not, hire a career coach to help with the next steps to a career and position that’s a right fit for you.
6. Don’t resolve personal problems
When personal challenges continue to build and increase, your ability and confidence to resolve and take action decreases. You can form a more helpless and hopeless attitude that will impact all areas of your life. Seek professional help or trusted friends to help overcome the challenges.
7. Don’t sleep
Lack of sleep causes great physical and emotional distress. When you don’t get enough sleep, it affects your ability to function optimally.
8. Remain bitter and unforgiving
You can probably identify one or more people whom you harbor resentment. It takes more mental energy to carry that anger than it does to release and let go. By remaining bitter, you actually give that person more control rather than taking control yourself.
9. Lack self-confidence
Not trusting in yourself and your abilities is a vicious cycle: Your inability to think ‘big’ keeps you from moving forward on the dreams and ideas most important to you.
10. Develop a ‘victim’ mentality
Reacting to people and circumstances and having a ‘what’s being done to me’ attitude will allow you to always remain a victim of circumstance. Choose to become proactive and set proper boundaries with people and in situations that don’t respect who you are as a person. You may have to do a self-check to make sure you respect yourself as well!
Lynn Jarrett is the founder of Forte’ Enterprises. Lynn is an L.C.P.C (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) and a lifecoach who has been a sought after life balance expert for 15 years. Lynn has authored two books on relationships. Lynn has been quoted in the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. Clients have included Ford Motor Company, General Electric and Johnson & Johnson.