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By Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan
WE live in a world measured by physical achievements - money, car, house and even kids with straight As - but the drawback of such pursuits comes in the form of the dreaded six-letter word we are all too familiar with: Stress.
The 2000 annual Attitudes In The American Workplace VI Gallup Poll, as reported on the American Institute of Stress website, found that 80 per cent of workers feel stressed on the job. But stress doesn't just afflict workers. Stay-at-home parents are also getting hit, bogged down with seemingly endless chores around the house.
Now, it's easy to de-stress with food. Desserts (which is "stressed" spelled backwards) laden with fat and sugar can give a sense of satiety and happiness but if not taken in moderation, can be detrimental to health.
Alcohol, despite its reputation of being able "to drown your sorrow", contains more calories per gram than carbohydrate or protein, meaning it's bad news for your weight and waistline.
Online health magazine Faith And Fitness says it best: "Focusing on eating rather than dealing with a stressful situation can develop into a vicious cycle. Tension leads to bad food choices. Bad food choices lead to more tension.
"More tension results in overeating... the cycle threatens our emotional stability and can wreak havoc on personal spirituality."
Put simply, food treats the symptoms of stress, but not the causes. How you deal with stress lies very much on how you perceive it. Here are some non-food ways to recharge and indulge yourself so you don't run on empty.
1. Read a favourite book
The next time you're feeling stressed, pick a favourite book and plonk yourself on your favourite reading spot.
In 2009, a research by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex found that reading could reduce one's stress level by 66 per cent, better than listening to music, going for a stroll or sitting down for a drink.
Cognitive neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis found that the subjects only needed to read for six minutes to slow down the heart rate and ease tension in the muscles. Not only that but their stress levels dropped to lower than before they started.
"This is more than merely a distraction but an active engaging of the imagination as the words on the printed page stimulate your creativity and lead you into what is essentially an altered state of consciousness," he said.
Pick up: Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird for insight into leadership, fatherhood and ethics, Roald Dahl's Matilda for a walk down memory lane, and Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morrie on what really matters in life.
2. Set aside money and time for your favourite pursuit.
It's easy to be swept up in the currents of monthly bills and payments, so why not try saving for a favourite pursuit such as an annual vacation or a new mountain bike instead. It has often been said that experience, not material, is more worthwhile to spend on since experience leaves a lasting impression on the mind.
It need not eat into your monthly expenditure as just a small portion of what you can spare will suffice. When you have pooled enough, go on holiday for example, to recharge. You will return to your home and work happier and more productive. A holiday need not be exotic or expensive. Pick something that suits your budget (otherwise, a hefty credit card bill from the holiday will only add to the stress) and time.
Pick up: A good camera to document your trip. Otherwise, postcards can serve as a good reminder of the experience.
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