Military Officer - January 2008 - (Page 66) How to Reduce your stress Too much stress affects not only your mind but also your health. Make 2008 a stress-free year. Disorganization and rushing to complete tasks often can lead to stress. Use a planner to help manage your time. D How to Give back Watching TV or using the computer right before bed can make it harder to relax and fall asleep — and feeling tired can make everything seem more stressful. Try reading a book instead. Take a yoga or pilates class. These are great stress-relievers. Spend time with friends and family. Laughter is one of the easiest and most fun ways to reduce stress. Find a hobby. Take a break from work and the daily grind, and indulge in something you enjoy doing, like gardening or riding a bike. Exercise regularly. It helps your body fight off stress and benefits the mind as well. Consider a four-legged friend. Studies show that pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression, have lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and have lower heart attack rates. 66 Does your neighborhood need a new playground? Do you want to help raise money for a local literacy program? Do you sense there is more to life than just earning a paycheck and watching Dancing with the Stars? If you answered yes, add volunteering to your list of new year’s resolutions for 2008. You’ll soon discover the intrinsic rewards far outweigh the lack of any paycheck. You’ll also discover you are not alone. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, the nation’s largest grant maker supporting service and volunteerism, 61.2 million volunteers in America dedicated 8.1 billion hours of service in 2006. Whether you seek to volunteer full time, part-time, or even only when your schedule permits, local and global communities need you. Your time, talents, and energy are what keep programs alive and well in a world of dwindling resources. By answering the call to become a volunteer, you also engage in a highly effective career strategy that can provide you with marketable work experience for your résumé and overall career development. It also provides you the opportunity to learn new skills or brush up on rusty ones. And you won’t find a more potent form of networking — the true elixir of any successful career. Convinced? Take the next step by looking inward and defining what matters to you most and what skills you can offer. That will give you a good idea about where to volunteer your time. Interested in writing? Why not help out with an organization’s newsletter? Do you love pets? Perhaps you could become a foster parent to animals at your local animal shelter. Your local chamber of commerce is a good place to start, in addition to any civic or nonprofit organization that interests you. In your military community, visit the installation volunteer coordinator at the family service center or Army Community Service to learn about potential opportunities. The following Web sites identify both national and international volunteer opportunities: Blue Ventures: www.blueventures.org Corporation for National and Community Service: www.nationalservice.gov Idealist: www.idealist.org Universal Giving: www.universalgiving.org Volunteer Match: www.volunteermatch.org Whether you decide to become a tutor, a teacher, a mentor, a food server at a local shelter, a fund-raiser, or simply an extra hand where needed, volunteering can be your ticket to personal and professional fulfillment. — Janet Farley is author of The Military Spouse’s Complete Guide to Career Success (Impact Publications, 2007) and The Military-to-Civilian Career Transition Guide (Jist, 2004). MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2008 http://www.blueventures.org http://www.nationalservice.gov http://www.idealist.org http://www.universalgiving.org http://www.volunteermatch.org
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