How do you manage stress? A few simple actions can make a difference Published May 27, 2008 By Chief Master Sgt. John Blake 305th Operations Support Squadron superintendent MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- In today's military environment of uncertainty, force shaping, budget constraints and AFSO 21 initiatives to find more efficient procedures coupled with a high ops temp, there are certainly times when we all may feel a little stressed. A little stress can be good and help keep us on top of our game. But when stress gets to be too much and you start feeling down in the dumps, just remember you are not alone and there are some simple things you can do to help reduce or relieve stress. One way to relieve stress is with physical activity. We are afforded many opportunities to exercise from wing runs, organized squadron PT and personal time for individual PT. Are you actively involved and participating? The Air Force has directed that members be afforded 90 minutes of duty time three times a week for physical fitness; how can you beat that? Why not take advantage of the opportunities given to be physically fit and hit the gym. There are many benefits to physical activity, such as better health, increased resistance to illness, more energy and yes, a great way to reduce or relieve stress. Normally after a good work out you feel better, the mind is clearer and you are re-energized to tackle the next challenge. Another way to relieve stress is with good time management. As the demands of daily life issues and the mission continue to increase, there could be times when you feel there just are not enough hours in a day to get everything done. I think we have all said or thought that at one time or another. By learning and implementing better time management techniques you will feel more in control and less stressed. A few tips that comes to mind for better time management are get organized, set priorities and stay focused. First get organized. Have you ever visited someone's office and wondered how in the world can they find or get anything done in this mess? What about your office, workspace, or desk and in/out boxes - are they well organized or do you have files and papers scattered all over the place? A lot of time can be wasted looking for things misplaced or not filed properly, causing you undue stress. Taking a little extra time in the beginning to get your area organized could save you a lot of time down the line. Use a day planner or calendar to keep track of appointments, meetings and suspenses. Although you may have a good memory, having a good tracking method would probably serve you well and prevent last-minute scrambling. Secondly, set priorities. Make a list of tasks you need to get done and how much time you expect each one to take. Prioritize your list with the most important task on top. Most people tend to have more energy at certain times of the day; based on your energy peak period, work on your top priorities then. Check off tasks as you complete them. This will show progress and give you a sense of accomplishment. Remember there are only so many hours in a day and you may not get everything accomplished. Finally, stay focused. When working on a task or project try to avoid distractions that prevent you from finishing the task at hand. Answering phone calls and socializing with co-workers can get you off track and behind schedule. Try to schedule time before beginning and at pre-determined break periods of a project to check e-mails and messages. Distractions can cause stress and frustration when you don't get to finish a task after planning and making time for it. We may not be able to control everything that causes stress but there are some things we can do reduce or relieve stress. If we incorporate physical activity into our daily routine we will feel better and be more energetic for the task at hand. By getting organized, setting priorities, and staying focused we are less likely to be overwhelmed and stressed by suspenses and meeting deadlines.