I have asked a lot of my students their opinion about working at home in different occasions at school but I have never asked myself if I could do it…until this period before summer holiday. And as the title of this article says, it seems to me a challenging experience and I told myself: “Why not?”.

            Let’s see, first of all, the advantages of this kind of work. Staying at home is very comfortable and it helps you to get rid of all the stress of going to a work place, especially when you have to respect a timetable. It is so annoying to hear the alarm clock every morning and hurry in order not to be late for work. Moreover, if it happens to imply an activity that you find enjoyable, it gives you the opportunity to work more and with more passion than if you have in mind the idea that you have to stay in an office with people who are not necessarily on your taste. This can make you feel irritated and it is possible to achieve worse results in comparison with those you can get if you have the chance to write in your own study with a cup of coffee in front of you.

Besides, this kind of work is a new experience for most of the Romanians, and for people who are not afraid of trying something new, is a way of proving themselves that they are open-minded and  enough courageous to do something that can give themselves satisfaction and self-confidence.

Last but not at least, having a part time job helps a person to earn some money, and taking into account the economical situation in our country, this is a way of trying to improve the family’s budget. I know a lot of people who, even if they have lost their job, they couldn’t try to do something they are not get used to. I’m different, and, although I have a job, I consider that it is advisable to work more and any opportunity deserves to be taken into account, if you consider yourself able to achieve an ideal and if you really like what you have to do.

I have always wanted to write. When I was a student I wrote in the high school and college magazines. Then I started teaching and my dream was to write a book someday. Unfortunately,this dream haven’t come true yet, but writing articles may give me the chance to work and get practise for what I have always had in my mind.

On the other hand, there are people who could say that it is not easy to write articles because it might be possible to get bored or, in time, you couldn’t find new ideas or inspiration any more. But, I suppose, that a person who has read a lot in his life and, especially who has a strong motivation for writing, can not let himself intimated by this kind of ideas.

            All in all, I consider that I have all the necessary abilities for this kind of work, and the ambition to manage to express in writing my ideas and share my experience with other people.

Peace of mind is always important to living life longer and still staying younger physically. Though I don’t look any younger at 22, if you ask my some of my friends, I must admit that I feel I still am and it is because I always make sure that I do get a great time for contemplation.

Whether there’s work or none, stress comes in. Pressure from heaps of paperwork causes stresses. Even boredom, brought about by doing nothing, causes stress. It is therefore important to get a balanced lifestyle. 

Let me list some of the activities I resort to when stress plagues.

Gardening. Go to your lawn and check it out if there’s an area where you can start up your own garden. If you don’t have enough space at home, you can opt for container gardening. Gardening, according to writer Susan Stewart, “is one of the fastest growing pastimes in the U.S., as well as one of the healthiest. Beyond its spiritual aspects, gardening can be a great stress reliever. Digging, raking, planting, pruning, and harvesting are physical activities that provide a constructive outlet for tensions that build up in our bodies. Gardening activities draw on your endurance, give you flexibility and strength, build muscle and strengthen the heart and lungs, as well as helping with weight control.” 

Writing. Don’t let your emotions penetrate you and kill you. Let it out. You can put them into writing. Writer Elisabeth Kuhn wrote: “There have been scientific studies on this that showed that it really works. You’re taking the stuff that’s festering deep inside you and bringing it out in the open. It’s a “mind dump”. First of all, it has a whole lot less power over you once it’s on a piece of paper. You can even rip the paper into shreds and so physically destroy what has been bugging you.”

Swimming. Like any sport, swimming can be an effective mean to release stress. Writer Elizabeth Scott wrote: “Combining the soothing properties of water and the benefits of exercise, swimming is a great way to get in shape, cool off, and feel great.”

Hanging out with friends. Take a break from a tough work or doldrums and hang out with your friends. Get a laughter from warm talks; sweat out unpleasant emotions from partying or watching a movie; or just take a seat and get a glass of lemonade and share your problem with your friends–they might have the best solution to it. “If you are focused on reaching out to other people, you are temporarily distracted from your own circumstances, pain, or stress levels. People who reach out to others can rely on those individuals for help and emotional assistance in the future,” Dr. Mills et al. wrote.

A cup of chocolate or strawberry ice cream. Eating ice cream not only satiates your craving for sweets, it also cools down your bad blood. “Eating ice-cream is a good way to manage stress, claim scientists from University of California. According to the researchers, milk and cream contain a large amount of amino acid tryptophan, which has a sedative effect on the brain. Tryptophan calms and improves your mood and sleep. In order not to get more cholesterol than your body needs and at the same time to provide yourself with the necessary amount of tryptophan, it’s enough to eat just one portion of ice-cream.” (geniusbeauty.com)

An instant noodle will also do though I don’t really advise it for its unhealthiness. A good slumber does. An hour or two of bath also helps. Or just tune in to your favorite playlist.

Now, I thank God. I just ditched stress! Writing does take great effect; it’s a sound contemplation.

The job market, bank crisis, etc., are beyond our control, but there are some things we can control and controlling what you can will lessen your stress.

Control your own personal spending. Make it a game between you and your spouse to see how much each one of you can save in a day or a week. Look for ways to save money and record the amount of money you save.

Control what you eat. Choose to eat a well balanced, nutritious diet instead of becoming addicted to high-fat fast foods. Eating healthy lessens stress, gaining weight would only add to your stress.

Exercise will lessen your stress and helps you stay in control through a disciplined regime.

Control your life by organization. Plan your daily and weekly schedule, organizing by priorities. Organize your home and surroundings, de-cluttering will help you de-stress.

Organizing and simplifying your schedule and your home will give you a feeling of accomplishment and empowerment. No doubt when you organize your home, you will have a stack of unwanted, accumulated clutter to deal with, so have a yard sale and make some money.

Getting your mind off yourself and your situation will lessen your stress. Sure, you may be in dire straights, but so are others. Reach out to help others through a local volunteer program, by helping others you help yourself lessen your stress.

Set aside a little time every day for yourself and relax. Sit down and read a book, watch a little TV, go for a walk.

Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Losing sleep and worrying will do you more harm than good. If you are well rested you can think clearer, have more energy and less stress.