Most people reading this recently enjoyed the holidays and maybe even a few days away from work.
So, does that mean all of us are rested and relaxed? Probably not. Stress is a problem that follows us into holidays, weekends and vacations.
One dictionary defines stress as follows:
“A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability and depression.”
For leaders who experience stress, it can be a debilitating experience that makes us feel like we’ll never get everything done, no matter how fast we run or how much we multitask.
Perhaps it is no surprise that we also have been very successful at teaching young people to live their lives full of strain and stress. The symptoms are different in kids, but it’s no less destructive.
In this issue of YouthWorker Journal, we want to declare war on stress; and in the following pages we provide plenty of insight and tools for the battle. We hope you find this material hopeful and that you don’t let it stress you out!
