How Busy People Cope With Stress

Ebony, July, 1999

SHAQ jumps into his car, pumps up the sound system and "gets lost." Mayor Wellington Webb of Denver goes to the gym. Sheryl Swoopes goes shopping. And Dr. Gary C. Dennis, president of the National Medical Association, retires to his home gym.

These and other newsmakers have proven that you can banish stress and remain calm in the most difficult situations. On the following pages, they share their successful remedies for coping with the stress of a busy lifestyle.

Gary C. Dennis, M.D., F.A.C.S.
President of the National Medical
Association and chief of neurosurgery at
Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Dennis, pictured working out with his wife, Sharman Dennis, who is president of the Auxiliary of the National Medical Association (the first time a husband-wife team has held both positions at the same time), says, "The best way to eliminate stress is through a combination of exercise, proper nutrition and getting enough sleep. I get about six hours of sleep a night, eat regular meals that aren't loaded with carbohydrates, and exercise at least three to four times a week, with each session lasting about 30 minutes. My workout, usually conducted at my home gym, can include stretching, calisthenics, aerobic exercises and time on the treadmill, During the summer, I include swimming. I also enjoy fishing, sports, listening to music and doing `odd jobs' around my home. Every six to eight weeks, I take a long weekend to give my brain a rest, taking at least one day to do nothing but rest and allow my body to recover."

WELLINGTON WEBB

Mayor of Denver

"I'm fairly resilient, but over the past six months, what I've started doing to maintain my own balance is to hire a professional trainer and work out with him two or three times a week. As an ex-athlete, I used to go to the gym and play basketball and try to keep up with people who were a lot younger than I am. But that made [me] prone to injury, and I found that I wasn't really working out my whole body. Now that I work out with a trainer, I find that I get a total body workout. And what: live noticed is that after a workout, I'm a lot calmer--at least my staff says I'm a lot calmer--and I cope with the stresses of campaigning and running the city better."

Shaquille O'Neal

Basketball star with the NBKs Los Angeles Lakers, actor and rapper

When I get upset, I jump into the car and "get lost. Driving around, I listen to my system, pumped up. In the process of getting myself found again, whatever was bothering me has been forgotten."

Cassandra Wilson

Singer

I like to take walks in each city I visit. It gives me a sense of the people I will be performing for and provides good exercise at the same time. I also take long baths whenever possible, preferably with some sort of aromatherapy. I like to take in a spa whenever I get the opportunity. A short swim and sauna are great for combating fatigue and road weariness."

Holly Robinson Peete

Actress, star of the WB sitcom, For Your Love

"With 18-month-old twins, this working mama is stressed. For me, power yoga is the way to relieve my stress and stay in shape. It is an all-encompassing form of exercise, healing both mind and body, and I love it. I also incorporated acupuncture and Chinese herbs in my life, which I find relieves stress as well."

Sheryl Swoopers

Basketball star with the WNBA's Houston Comets

I like to go shopping! I also like to get a pedicure, manicure and massage!"

Iyanla Vanzant

Author and motivational speaker

"I have discovered that trying to control events and people is the greatest stress-inducing activity in my life. As a result, I make a conscious effort to surrender everything in my life to God. I do that in the morning in prayer. I do it throughout the day with affirmations and Biblical reading. I do it on the spur of the moment when I feel myself fretting, and fixing and worrying about things. I have a sign on my wall that says, `Relax! God is in charge! I'm just along for the ride.' However, in those moments when t can't resist the urge to be human and try to force things to go my way, t sit in the corner and eat a pint of Haagen-Dazs coffee ice cream. That is a real shot of reality for me."

Dr. Keith Black

Chief of neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles

"I try to get back to the water as often as I can, whether it's sailing or canoeing or swimming. Anything having to do with water is spiritually and emotionally comforting and nourishing to me."

Deborah J. Frazier

Vice president and senior financial consultant for Merrill Lynch in New York

"I increase physical stress in order to decrease mental stress and let my spirit soar. One of my favorite pastimes is going on Outward Bound trips, where I get to take on the challenges of rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking and white-water rafting. Helping clients navigate the volatility of today's securities markets becomes a lot easier after you've negotiated the rushing white waters of the Colorado River! I also enjoy working out to `Tae Bo/jogging, swimming and hiking. Yet some of my most relaxing moments are spent during quiet playtimes with my 4-year-old son. Sitting on the floor helping Zachary build highways for his cars and railroad tunnels for his trains can be very therapeutic after a day of managing clients' expectations when the Dow falls 10 percent!"3