The most popular means of evaluating stress levels is by conducting self-report surveys. In the surveys, individuals should respond to queries about their psychological or physical conditions. In the year 1976, Holmes and Rahe proposed that key life events, whether worthy or wicked, were possibly stressful (Holmes-Rahe-Stress-Inventory, 2011). The two medical doctors were the first to document the impacts of life events on humans in a methodical way. In their study, they noted that patients often experience a number of life changing events prior to the commencement of their stress. Based on the findings, the two doctors asserted that stress was responsible for a number of patients’ illness (Holmes-Rahe-Stress-Inventory, 2011). They proposed that stress results from modifications, which can cause huge vulnerability to physical and psychological health disarrays. The reflective essay below highlights on my current stress levels based on the Holmes-Rahe life stress inventory.
To evaluate my stress levels using the inventory, I was required to identify the major life changing events that I had experienced in the last one year. Thereafter, I was required to add the score of the events. The final score indicated a rough estimate of how stress had affected my health in the previous year. The major transformations noted in my report were changes in sleeping habits and a death of a close family member. On a Holmes-Rahe life stress inventory, changes in sleeping habits were equated with 16 points (Holmes-Rahe-Stress-Inventory, 2011). On the other hand, the death of a close family member was equated with 63 points. The final score of the two events was 79 points. With respect to the above points, it is apparent that over the last one year I have had minimal life changes (Holmes-Rahe-Stress-Inventory, 2011). In the inventory, an estimate below 150 points implies that I have a low vulnerability to stress related illness.
In the future, I should adopt appropriate strategies to ensure that my stress levels points remain low as possible. According to Dave Ulacia, by prioritizing tasks into urgent, not urgent, important, and not important categories I would be able to prioritize my time (Ulacia, 2009). Through this, I would manage and plan my time effectively. The above initiative will not only lower my chances of getting stress related illnesses, but will also increase my productivity.
Similarly, I should identify actions or events that make me feel stressed. Thereafter, I should identify precise, tangible, and realistic means of substituting stress-causing ingredients with more supportive and pleasurable actions and events (Ulacia, 2009). Through this, I would avoid being engaged in things that make me feel strained. When overwhelmed by stress levels in the future, I will possibly listen to soft music, take a nature walk, talk with a friend, or read a favorite book. By doing so, I will be able to relax my mind enabling it to tackle with the stress causing elements.
To manage the inevitable stresses, I should be ready to tackle life challenges whenever they occur. The above initiative requires me to plan ahead of stressful events and be positive (Giancola, Grawitch & Borchert, 2009). I should visualize myself undergoing through the challenging events successfully. When I fail to meet my expectations, I should have a backup plan. Through this, I would be able to tackle life challenges with ease and avoid stress related illness.
References
Holmes-Rahe-Stress-Inventory. (2011). Web.
Giancola, J. K., Grawitch, M. J., & Borchert, D. (2009). Dealing With The Stress Of College: A Model For Adult Students. Adult Education Quarterly, 59(3), 246-263.
Ulacia, D. (2009). Are You Working on the Wrong Things?. Web.