Only few industries have as much chaotic potential as the restaurant business. There is constant activity, personality clashes and your guests need to be served in a timely and friendly manner.

Seems like you will never be able to stop your worries because the bills will still come in, the day will always be 24 hours long, and your job and family responsibility will always follow you.

Right now you need to take control by understanding your responsibilities. So take control of your thoughts, emotions and how you deal with problems.

What you want is to manage your life well by doing what you like.

If you want more energy, stay calmer; to handle the restaurant industry lifestyle better and with success you should focus on.

• Mental.
• Physical.
• Spiritual.
• Health.

I would define stress management as being more like self management. To get it right you need to work on yourself to begin with:

• Find ways to feel good about yourself.
• Do everything in your power to take good care of your body.
• Have the right attitude. Do not react under pressure – for every problem there is an opportunity. Be positive no matter what.
• You have to create the right environment for you

Your body’s stress response

When there is a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones awaken your body for urgent action and are characterized by:

• Fast heart beat.
• Tightened muscles.
• Raised blood pressure.
• Fast breathing.
• Increase in your strength and stamina.
• Enhanced focus.

The result is that are you preparing to either fight or flee from the danger at hand.

Stress and anxiety go hand in hand. Stress accounts for 80% of all illnesses. Most of the time we underestimate stress, but you probably know what it can do to your body:

• Raise blood pressure.
• Potentially cause stroke.
• If chronic can interfere with the immune system.
• Stress drives people to an unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol and being physically inactive.

One good way to improve your feelings of stress is to have a stress journal. When you feel stressed, get down on paper the time, place and consider the reasons why.

Once you know that you will have your own way to de-stress, which could involve one of the following four options:

• Avoid the stimulant that gives you stress.
• Modify the stimulant.
• Adapt.
• Accept.

The way you think has an intense affect on your emotional and physical well-being. Thinking negative thoughts about yourself makes your body tense.

Think first-class things about yourself. Feel excellent and tell yourself you are. Do not use these words:

• Always.
• Never.
• Should.
• Must.

These words can be self-defeating thoughts for you.

When in a stressful situation, you will react in three possible ways:

• Get angry and agitated.
• Feel depressed or spaced out.
• Feel frozen or traumatized.

Now there are plenty of inappropriate responses to stress, but only a few appropriate ones:

• Talk about it with people you trust.
• Do something that makes you feel better when you are stressed. Such as, thinking positive or distracting yourself. You need to bring yourself into balance.