In recent talks to Laboratory employees, Locke, the Laboratory psychology team leader and team leader of the Employee Assistance Program, focused on recognizing stress and offered strategies on how to cope with it. The talks did not aim to fix the present situation at the Lab, but rather on how to take care of oneself in a stressful situation.
Stress can lead to lack of attention, which can lead to accidents. The better a person learns how to cope with stress, the stronger his or her immune system becomes, and the easier it is to fight off illnesses, said Locke.
There are things to recognize when dealing with stress, and the important factors to remember are control and reaction, said Locke. "It is not the stressor that matters as much as the ability to control the response to the stressor," he said, "How you give meaning to an event is more biologically and psychologically impactful than the event itself."
One cannot change certain events, Locke said, but he or she can change the reactions to them. "Belief becomes biology," said Locke, quoting Norman Cousins, author of "Anatomy of an Illness," because of how one's body reacts to the brain. Every situation can be looked at through different perspectives, and while some outlooks can result in an increase in stress, other outlooks can help keep stress low. "Awfulizing is not good for your biology," said Locke.
Locke also provided some tips to lessen stress.
- Exercise is important, as well as watching one's diet.
- It is important not to get dehydrated; drink sufficient amounts of water; dehydration can lead to higher blood pressures.
- Get plenty of rest. Sleep deprivation only exacerbates symptoms brought on by stress.
- Be sure to keep angry reactions under control. Angry behavior is a deadly response as it can damage one's integrity, said Locke.
- Be careful about alcohol consumption. In the short term, it can seem to relieve stress; in the long run it can seriously damage all that is important to a person.
- One effective, quick stress reliever is to monitor breathing. By keeping track of breathing, one can lower his or her heart rate.
- Don't be afraid to talk to a counselor about almost anything; it will not cost a Lab employee his or her Q clearance.
- Humor is important in a stressful situation.
The Laboratory has a number of services available to assist the work force during the suspension of operations. For more information, see the Aug. 2 Daily Newsbulletin.
--Brenna Moore
| Training sessions next week help managers deal with stress Four training workshops on how to manage in a high-stress and changing work environment are being offered to Laboratory managers beginning next week. On Tuesday, a 90-minute workshop for all division leaders will replace the Laboratory Information Meeting (LIM). The workshop titled "Extreme Management: Discussion and Strategies for Managing in a High-Stress and Changing Work Environment" is scheduled for 8 to 9:30 a.m., in the Cochiti Room at the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center at Technical Area 3. This workshop will function as the Division Leadership Council meeting that was scheduled for Aug. 24, and will focus on providing division leaders with an executive overview to coaching group leaders on the personnel assessment process, handling interviews, observing tensions, behaviors and communicating/modeling ethics and diversity while establishing expectations for operational competence and commitment. Roland D. West and Associates will act as facilitators for the workshop. Group leaders and all other managers, including deputy division leaders, are encouraged to participate in one of the three voluntary workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday. The first of the three-hour workshops open to all managers is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesday in Room 165 at the Canyon School Complex. Two other workshops are scheduled for 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., and 1 to 4 p.m., on Wednesday at the same location. Each workshop is limited to 30 participants and managers must reserve space in a particular workshop by calling Sue Bargeloh of Training and Development (HR-TD) at 7-8036. The workshop has three main goals:
For more information about the workshops and to reserve a space, contact Bargeloh by phone or write to bargeloh@lanl.gov by electronic mail. --Chris Roybal |