Wednesday, February 27, 2008

It's Me

I have spoken before about the uneasiness I often feel...that "unsettled" feeling that keeps me up researching anything and everything until I give up and fall asleep. Interestingly enough, my daily Sparkpeople.com email had a link to this article. I started to delete it, but then I thought "hmmm...I wonder what those 10 High-Stress Personality Characteristics are?" So I read the article, and I AM numbers 1 - 9. And the only reason #10 doesn't fit is because I am not very passionate about my computer programming career. You know, I've never considered myself a high stress person. I've actually thought I was fairly laid-back at times. Obviously, though, I bring more stress upon myself than is necessary. Check out the article - taken from http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=499

10 High-Stress Personality Characteristics

Chronic Stress Isn't Normal

-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer & Jen Mueller, Certified Personal Trainer
Stress has been so ingrained in our days and in our culture, that we probably don’t even recognize it any more. We may believe that the general underlying sense of uneasiness we feel is normal and acceptable. Or we might blame the tension and stress we experience—in traffic, at work or at home—more on what’s happening “to” us than what’s happening “within” us.
The problem with this attitude is that it brings on a sense of helplessness, that there’s nothing we can do about stress other than cope. This thought alone is a source of stress, isn’t it?
When you realize that the stress you experience may have something to do with you, it helps you take control and start to solve the problem. Here are 10 personality traits that are symptoms of being highly stressed. Some are characteristics that, by their nature, add even more stress to your life. This list will help you recognize if you are highly stressed and give you ideas for doing something about it.
How many of these qualities do you exhibit?
  1. Over-planning each day. Do you feel the need to stick to a strict schedule? Do you live in fear of falling behind or overlooking a task?
  2. Doing several things at once. With too much to do and not enough time, it’s easy to think that “efficient” means doing everything at once. He who chases two rabbits catches neither.
  3. Extreme need to win. Do you feel like a failure if you don’t come out on top—even when the only competition is your own expectations?
  4. Excessive desire for advancement. Highly stressed people need confirmation from outside sources that they’re doing okay and performing well.
  5. Inability to relax without feeling guilty. Do your weekends become opportunities for “accomplishment” and “getting something done.”
  6. Impatience with delays. When you’re under pressure, everything in life takes on urgency and the additional burdens to get everything done as fast as possible.
  7. Overcommittment. Are you chronically late or forgetful of commitments? Does your schedule cause problems in personal or professional relationships?
  8. Chronic urgency. See #6. Now!
  9. Highly competitive drive. Have you forgotten what it’s like to have fun for fun’s sake? Have you “grown up” so much that playtime actually causes you anxiety?
  10. Compulsion to overwork. Is your office more familiar to you than your backyard? Do you find yourself missing out on what you might otherwise deem “meaningful”?

4 comments:

J~Mom said...

I can totally relate!! Especially #5! I don't want to relax until everything is done and everything is NEVER done. It's a battle!

Brooke said...

I'm a total slacker based on this list.

kmholt7 said...

#2 and #5 scream my name!

Rae said...

Well, to me #10 isn't necessarily work like "work-work", it could be training or hobbies or anything else you become obsessed with. Anyway, I think most everyone is guilty of at LEAST a few of those!!