While working on your emotional intelligence (EQ) can help improve your relationships at work, your work performance and your overall decision making, an improvement in EQ also plays a major role in reducing stress.
We all know the effects of stress: high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attacks, increased risk of stroke, a suppressed immune system and even increased aging.
When we work on our emotional intelligence, however, we learn to recognise the onset of stress and react in a way that helps relieve the stress instead of exacerbating it.
EQ tips for dealing with stress
1. Identification
The first step in reducing your stress is to learn to identify when you begin to feel stressed.
This could manifest in the form of tight muscles, a sore stomach, clenched fists, tension headaches and shallow breath.
It's important to remember that no two people will feel exactly the same when stress hits - it's about recognising your own physiological responses to stress.
2. Your Reaction
The second step is to take note of your normal response to stress.
Do you become depressed or withdrawn with you get stressed? Angry or agitated? Do you freeze up and become unable to continue with your work?
Your reaction to stressful situations is important because it is based on this that you will decide how to relieve your stress.
3. Stress Relief
Once you know what your typical reaction is to stressful situations you can look at appropriate ways of dealing with it.
If you tend to get agitated, flustered or angry when stressed you will probably find that calming activities are the most effective.
Conversely if you tend to become withdrawn when stressed you will probably find that stimulating or energising activities are more effective in reducing your stress, such as listening to music.
What do you do when you are overcome with stress? Are your stress-handling techniques effective?
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