How do you cope with stress?
August 21, 2005 | 12:00am
Stress is part of our daily lives. Everyone, regardless of age or what they do in life, experiences some form of stress. But it should not be a problem. There are so many ways to cope with stress. What is important is that you know yourself and know what it is that will make you happy. Massage, eating, sleeping, reading, playing with the kids, playing with pets, shopping – the list could go on and on – are things that people do on those days when life seems to be too much.
As for me, moments of silence in prayer have always been the cure for the stress in my life.
Senator Pia Cayetano: If I could bike the hilly roads of Tagaytay and run in the rain every day I would. But short of that, I do start my day with a physically challenging run and bike workout. Away from my cell phone and my secretary who has a never-ending list of things for me to do, I can review my day and remind myself of what’s important and what’s not. Physiologically, mentally and emotionally, it is proven to be the best and most naturally way of dealing with stress. It works for me.
JM Rodriguez, stage actor: Fortunately I am not a person who wallows in his problems. When I do get stressed out, though, I do laps in the pool until I tire myself, then I have a strawberry shake, KFC hot and crispy chicken and curly fries. Then in the evening, I hang out with good friends so I forget about being stressed.
Aurelio Montinola III, Bank of the Philippine Islands president: Regular exercise, lunches out with various friends, no business dinners and work- life balance — my agenda on Saturday is completely free and I spend Sunday as family day. Put another way, I also have a life outside BPI.
Nedy Tantoco, president, Rustan Marketing Corp, Stores Specialists Inc. and Rustan’s Marketing Specialists Inc.: I don’t. When it gets too much I take off for a vacation that Patrick and I have lined up to resolve such eventualities such as too much stress.
Nelson Caruncho, performing artist/teacher: Whenever I’m stressed, I take out my calendar and plan out what I have to do in a timely manner. I need to manage my time well in order to know exactly how much time I have to accomplish a particular task. I need to examine the task at hand, quantify and qualify the different elements that need attention. When I have accomplished the timetable, I stick to it religiously as best I can and don’t dilly-dally. Whenever I have time left over that’s when I afford myself a trip to the spa or go on a food trip to relax. I don’t usually get stressed because I manage my time mindfully. When one is mindful of things then one can learn and gain wisdom from their experiences.
Pachot S. Mapa, Old Asia owner: I seek the pleasure of being in the company of people I love, especially my family and friends. Their presence alone is a celebration of life. But most of all, I reflect and pray to God realizing that everything that is happening is part of His plan. This gives me peace of mind.
Secretary Gabriel Claudio, Office of Political Affairs: I know I’m stressed when I wake up ahead of the alarm clock because of an acidic stomach or when my lower back pain persists for days. I try to relax by doing any of the following depending on the time available: breathing exercises in bed, watching my favorite movie reruns on late-night home video (usually comedy, war, or mushy, feel-good movies – nothing cerebral), lapping in an Olympic size swimming pool, playing guitar with my twin brother, malling with the family, Sunday lunch, family reunions, or saying a silent prayer and asking my late mom in heaven to watch my back.
Ma. Teresa P. Dragon, Shu Uemura senior product manager: I de-stress in so many ways, I either: 1) Play with my dog, Amica! 2) Have a massage at Neo Day Spa 3) Or a foot massage at Footloose (best after a long night of dancing!) 4) Go for a 45-minute run at the gym 5) Just lie in bed and listen to good music 6) And of course, shopping.
Alan Michael Rafe, Berkley International Philippines president: I think we all need to live with stress – from running a business to providing for our families. Most stress, however, comes from fear and lack of control over what could go wrong. Therefore, I face up to the situation quickly and conquer any fear that I may be harboring inside in order to better assess and cope with the situation. More often than not, the thing turns out to be not as bad as I think. It usually gets worse when I ignore it. I also seek help or advice from people I respect or believe to have a better understanding of the true state of affairs. I try not to over-react as this usually creates more problems.
Marichi Jose, housewife: I try to tap into whatever little Zen I have left inside, and shut out all the maddening noise. When I feel the stress and tension building up, and I’m bursting at the seams, I try to walk it off. It’s one way of decompressing, letting off steam. Also, spending some time alone, going to the chapel. I feel all my tension dissipate in the calm stillness of place. There are other quick fixes and guaranteed stress-busters like getting a massage, or simply taking a coffee break when things get a bit frenzied. Ultimately, "not sweating the small stuff" is what will keep you sane. Of course, having a sense of humor is key to surviving the most stressful situations.
Dr. Raul G. Fores, chairman emeritus, Makati Medical Center: How to cope with stress? The only way that I know is through prayer. It has always been my refuge when I am troubled. The minute I close my eyes and start unloading to Someone Up There, I feel the gradual release of tension. Peace of mind and spirit then take over.
As for me, moments of silence in prayer have always been the cure for the stress in my life.
Senator Pia Cayetano: If I could bike the hilly roads of Tagaytay and run in the rain every day I would. But short of that, I do start my day with a physically challenging run and bike workout. Away from my cell phone and my secretary who has a never-ending list of things for me to do, I can review my day and remind myself of what’s important and what’s not. Physiologically, mentally and emotionally, it is proven to be the best and most naturally way of dealing with stress. It works for me.
JM Rodriguez, stage actor: Fortunately I am not a person who wallows in his problems. When I do get stressed out, though, I do laps in the pool until I tire myself, then I have a strawberry shake, KFC hot and crispy chicken and curly fries. Then in the evening, I hang out with good friends so I forget about being stressed.
Aurelio Montinola III, Bank of the Philippine Islands president: Regular exercise, lunches out with various friends, no business dinners and work- life balance — my agenda on Saturday is completely free and I spend Sunday as family day. Put another way, I also have a life outside BPI.
Nedy Tantoco, president, Rustan Marketing Corp, Stores Specialists Inc. and Rustan’s Marketing Specialists Inc.: I don’t. When it gets too much I take off for a vacation that Patrick and I have lined up to resolve such eventualities such as too much stress.
Nelson Caruncho, performing artist/teacher: Whenever I’m stressed, I take out my calendar and plan out what I have to do in a timely manner. I need to manage my time well in order to know exactly how much time I have to accomplish a particular task. I need to examine the task at hand, quantify and qualify the different elements that need attention. When I have accomplished the timetable, I stick to it religiously as best I can and don’t dilly-dally. Whenever I have time left over that’s when I afford myself a trip to the spa or go on a food trip to relax. I don’t usually get stressed because I manage my time mindfully. When one is mindful of things then one can learn and gain wisdom from their experiences.
Pachot S. Mapa, Old Asia owner: I seek the pleasure of being in the company of people I love, especially my family and friends. Their presence alone is a celebration of life. But most of all, I reflect and pray to God realizing that everything that is happening is part of His plan. This gives me peace of mind.
Secretary Gabriel Claudio, Office of Political Affairs: I know I’m stressed when I wake up ahead of the alarm clock because of an acidic stomach or when my lower back pain persists for days. I try to relax by doing any of the following depending on the time available: breathing exercises in bed, watching my favorite movie reruns on late-night home video (usually comedy, war, or mushy, feel-good movies – nothing cerebral), lapping in an Olympic size swimming pool, playing guitar with my twin brother, malling with the family, Sunday lunch, family reunions, or saying a silent prayer and asking my late mom in heaven to watch my back.
Ma. Teresa P. Dragon, Shu Uemura senior product manager: I de-stress in so many ways, I either: 1) Play with my dog, Amica! 2) Have a massage at Neo Day Spa 3) Or a foot massage at Footloose (best after a long night of dancing!) 4) Go for a 45-minute run at the gym 5) Just lie in bed and listen to good music 6) And of course, shopping.
Alan Michael Rafe, Berkley International Philippines president: I think we all need to live with stress – from running a business to providing for our families. Most stress, however, comes from fear and lack of control over what could go wrong. Therefore, I face up to the situation quickly and conquer any fear that I may be harboring inside in order to better assess and cope with the situation. More often than not, the thing turns out to be not as bad as I think. It usually gets worse when I ignore it. I also seek help or advice from people I respect or believe to have a better understanding of the true state of affairs. I try not to over-react as this usually creates more problems.
Marichi Jose, housewife: I try to tap into whatever little Zen I have left inside, and shut out all the maddening noise. When I feel the stress and tension building up, and I’m bursting at the seams, I try to walk it off. It’s one way of decompressing, letting off steam. Also, spending some time alone, going to the chapel. I feel all my tension dissipate in the calm stillness of place. There are other quick fixes and guaranteed stress-busters like getting a massage, or simply taking a coffee break when things get a bit frenzied. Ultimately, "not sweating the small stuff" is what will keep you sane. Of course, having a sense of humor is key to surviving the most stressful situations.
Dr. Raul G. Fores, chairman emeritus, Makati Medical Center: How to cope with stress? The only way that I know is through prayer. It has always been my refuge when I am troubled. The minute I close my eyes and start unloading to Someone Up There, I feel the gradual release of tension. Peace of mind and spirit then take over.
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