Beep's 2010 Stress In America Survey

“Beep, Beep, Beep.” That is the sound that my alarm clock makes each morning. As my feet hit the floor after I get out of my comfortable bed, I take a deep breath. After I thank God for waking me up to see another day, my mind instantly starts racing. My thoughts tackle one another, I begin to view my “to do” list for the day at record-breaking speed. I am a husband, a father of three children, event planner, and a youth pastor. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines stress as “physical force or pressure that causes strong feelings of worry or anxiety.” Stress can also be described as tension. In order for a bodybuilder to gain more muscle mass he must lift heavy weights, the tension or pressure in weight causes muscles to build as he lifts.
It is indeed a fact, that Americans recognized their stress levels remained high and exceed healthy levels (“Stress in America”, 2010). The 2010 Stress in America Survey was a tool used to measure stress. This online survey, conducted by the American Psychological Association revealed that Americans suffer with finding balance in their work, personal, emotional, and family life. The survey indicated that only a small number of adults are satisfied with how their employer balanced out work and non-work demands. There were major concerns with job security as well. The survey, which has been done annually since 2007, examines factors that contribute to stress in Americans. The results of the survey draw attention to the serious physical and emotional implications of stress and the complicated link between the mind and body (“Stress in America”, 2010). The findings of the 2010 report also highlight how having stress in the home impacts the lives of the children who are involved. Dr. Him Gigot stated, “Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.” According to the APA survey, 4 out of 10 children say they feel sad when their parent is stressed or worried, 34 percent of children say they can definitely identify when their parent is worried or stressed out when they yell often. When parents begin to consistently argue with
Concerning everything that I do on a week-to-week basis from counseling, sermon preparation, ministering, event planning, assisting my wife with home duties and children, I believe my score is great. My stress management plan includes, but is not limited to prayer, exercise, writing, and spending time with friends and my family. The five steps to time management as described by Hoeger & Hoeger are: 1.) find time killers, 2.) set long and short range goals, 3.) identity your immediate goals, 4.) use a daily planner, and 4.) conduct nightly audits (Hoeger & Hoeger pg. 393). The five steps to time management are tools that I can begin to implement into my stress management plan. One of the greatest compliments my wife and I receive on a consistent basis about our children isn’t how cute they are, it’s not how smart they are, but the greatest compliment in my eyes is how happy they are. After reviewing the Stress in America 2010 Key Findings, I realize more than ever how our stress levels and management of stress directly affect our children. I would never want our children to be stressed out in any way, especially from my mismanagement of stress. With intentional effort, I will do everything within my power to keep stress at bay, for my own health and happiness and certainly for the health and