Stress and Work Life Balance - Happiness is Balance

By Mark Kaplan / March 12, 2020

Happiness and stress do not occur in the same space. Happiness is stimulated by certain hormones for positive behaviors and thoughts. Stress is the result of the opposite hormones caused by worry, fear, or overwhelm. Work life balance is usually a feeling that life is under control although it could be different.

Working a stressful job or project and then taking sufficient time for relief to eliminate stress and pump happiness brain chemicals can create a roller coaster of emotions. Yet, people who work stressful jobs like in the military are often given time off to unwind.

Relieving Stress on a More Frequent Basis

Stress can accumulate to the extent it cannot be relieved in short bouts. The best way to treat accumulative stress is to relieve it on a more frequent basis. Stimulating happiness brain chemicals of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphin override the stress hormones of cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine.

Happiness brain chemicals can be stimulated on a daily basis. The best behaviors are learning, creating, contributing, health and fitness. Learning could be the continuous process of improving skills or knowledge through classes or training. Creativity could be a morning practice of working on problems or creating information that would benefit or entertain others.

Any activities that would benefit others stimulates oxytocin. Blogging, collaborating, helping your family, working in the community, or learning more in order that you can make a worthwhile contribution.

Endorphins are stimulated by exercise that push your limits. Exercise flushes inflammation and replenishes muscles with nutrients. The relief to our nervous system and emotional imbalance is substantial. An hour bike ride brings my blood pressure down immediately.

Relief in Times of Stress

Stress affects our digestion, sleep, and immunity system. In times of crisis as we are experiencing in a global virus, we want to be strong. We want to improve our nutrition, exercise regularly, and find positive ways to relax. With more people working at home presently, it gives us more opportunity to engage in positive behaviors of happiness and health. Happiness scientifically, is a result of growth behaviors.

As we ponder what is happening in our world, we have the need to increase our own personal skills and perhaps flexibility to contribute in ways that are different than what we have been doing. There will be a greater need of remote work and skills necessary for remote work.

There may be a greater demand for creating online courses and coaching for people who need help in adapting. This is a time when stress and happiness can be brought into better balance out of self-preservation.

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