Stress Management: Five Ways to Reduce Environmental Stress - Part One

Life is stressful enough without allowing the physicalrnenvironment - air quality, lighting, noise, and otherrncontrollable factors - to intensify day-to-day stress.rnEspecially in the Fall and Winter is where you experiencernless daylight and more mood swings.

The great thing about environmental stress is that in mostrncases we can control what is in our environment that isrncausing the stress. Take these five steps to eliminaternenvironmental stressors that might cause stress and tensionrnin your work and home life.

1. Increase your activities during natural light. Natural lightrn elevates the mood and helps maintain a regular internal bodyrn "clock". Especially during the fall and winter we experience arn substantial decrease in natural daylight. If you're indoors, try working next to a window and allow as much sunlight asrn possible to enter your space. If you work in an office withoutrn windows try buying a natural sunlight lamp. These lampsrn can help with Seasonal Affective Disorders as they provide arn natural sunlight spectrum for health and well being. Prolonged exposure to artificial lighting in any setting can bern an environmental stressor.

1. Ban tobacco smoke. Constant exposure to tobacco smokern and its toxins can be a persistent environmental stressor andrn lead to respiratory problems and other symptoms.

1. Evaluate your furniture arrangement. Arrange yourrn furniture so that you don't feel cramped. Remember you arern more productive in a relaxed environment. Also, is yourrn furniture arranged so that you inviting constantrn interruptions from visitors? If you can, move your furniturern from the line of sight of potential visitors so that you canrn focus better, accomplish your goals, and decrease stress.

1. Frequently Change Your Ventilation or Air Filters. Yourrn office or home is full of ingredients found in cleaningrn supplies, upholstery, carpeting, adhesives, and in chemicals. Devices such as copy machines, printers and computers allrn contribute to poor air quality. Combine that with working inrn an office building where you can't open windows it makesrn the situation ten times worst for the occupants. In extremern cases, individuals may become physically ill from thesern pollutants, and even moderate doses can cause coughing, arn scratchy, burning throat, and other symptoms.

   If you are concerned about poor air quality in the officernspeak with the building maintenance crew and see how oftenrnthey change the air filters. In most cases, if you explain in arnfriendly way why you are concerned they will make an extrarneffort to change at least the filter in your area. Also you can buy arnpersonal air filtration kit at any appliance store to make yourrnlife easier. Open windows At home to allow air circulation.rnAlso frequently change your home air filter.

1. "Bring the Green In." This is a term my wife, Joy Fisher- Sykes, uses to say that natural colors make us more relaxed. Color has effect on your mood and energy level. It isrn generally agreed that blue and green are very relaxing colors. On a personal basis these might not be the colors that relaxrn you. You decide on the amount of color you're comfortablern with and the shades that most appeal to you. For example, bright yellow would tend to irritate me it may work just finern for others because of its brightness. Experiment with colorsrn that will work to minimize stress for you.

Remember, these are all environmental factor that you canrnchange to work for you. Just recognize what works for yournand take the first steps to decrease stress.