Stress-Busting Secrets Of Superbusy People

Ebony, July, 2000 by Lynn Norment

STRESS. It is defined as a physical, chemical or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.

In our everyday lives, stress manifests itself in the anxiety and tension we feel when time, money and resources are short and the list of things that must be done is long. The hectic pace of life in the year 2000 dictates that men and women both try to balance demands of work and the quest for success with the needs of home and family and self. When people are stressed, their ability to think clearly and objectively may be affected, and they feel less capable than they actually are.

As people become more aware of the link between mind and body and how stress affects both, more are taking steps to combat stress, or at least keep it under control. We polled a number of superbusy people in diverse professions and asked them to share their stress-busting secrets.

With constant travel between Washington, D.C., and her home district in Houston, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has a crowded agenda. When she wants to get away from it all, she heads for the shore. "I love the water--the ocean, lakes, rivers and streams," she says. "All are very soothing to me. There is nothing more relaxing than an evening walk on the beach, with the sand beneath you, listening to the ocean. It allows you to take time to focus on your thoughts and to accept the challenges of everyday life."

When she can't get away, the congresswoman relaxes by reading "the words of Martin Luther King Jr. or Maya Angelou, among others, because inspiring words uplift me for the obstacles ahead." Sometimes Rep. Jackson Lee, an attorney who is married to a college administrator and the mother of two, simply goes to a gym and uses the treadmill. "The main point for me is to have enough faith to stay strong for my family, friends and constituents," she says. "Therefore, I can look trouble in the eye and keep on going."

Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie W. Herenton finds solace from the controversies of public life, constant travel and non-stop meetings within the confines of his 4.65-acre wooded estate. "My residence provides me with space for walking, jogging and lawn work," says the mayor, who formerly held another superstressful job, that of superintendent of Memphis Public Schools. "I occasionally play basketball with my son and older grandson for exercise. My enjoyment comes from being able to do my own lawn work and attending to my shrubbery. Pushing a lawn mower provides me the means to release a lot of tension after a very full and demanding day. After being in the public's eye most of the time, I find solace in working at my place of residence. It is not often that I am able to enjoy quality time by myself."

Aside from his lawn work, Mayor Herenton relaxes by listening to "smooth music" and reading.

A mind-and-body approach also helps James E. Johnson, Treasury Undersecretary for Enforcement, to combat stress. And there is plenty of it, considering he manages a budget of $4 billion and a staff of 29,000 as he oversees the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Customs, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Secret Service and several other Treasury Department bureaus.

A former track athlete, Johnson lifts weights and jogs several times a week. But family time is the greatest source of relaxation for the married father of two daughters, ages 2 and 6. "What helps me relax the most is spending time with my children and being involved in their activities, whether at home, church or school," he says. "Family time is crucial." Another source of relaxation for Johnson is working with wood and building furniture at his Washington-area home.

Indulging in a hobby that takes your mind off work is a proven stress-buster for many people. Judge Joe Brown, host of his own television show, for several years endured constant travel between Los Angeles and Memphis, where he recently retired from the criminal court bench. To ease the mental burden of his hectic pace, he indulges in a number of athletic hobbies, including horseback riding, biking and scuba diving in the Caribbean.

Judge Brown, who is single, also says that sharing quality time with the "special woman in my life" is a great stress-reliever. "Spending time with a person of good company, having dinner, a glass of wine and good conversation, and whatever that leads to, is the most serene way to relieve stress," he says.

Stacey H. Davis, president and CEO of the Fannie Mae Foundation based in Washington, D.C., also uses a combination of physical-fitness activity and more serene methods to deal with the pressure of extensive travel and overseeing 100 employees and an annual budget of $110 million. Davis, who is single, runs three to four miles several times a week, and she gets a deep-tissue massage at least twice monthly.

Even when she's on the road, she makes time to run and get her massages. "For me it is a stress reliever," says Davis. "And it provides a great time to meditate. When I run, I block out everything else going on around me, and this helps me deal with the stress ... I'm not thinking about business when I get a massage. Just being able to take care of yourself, to pamper yourself, is important. It is a way to get away from the hectic day-to-day routine.