英語記事に慣れる「サクっと読む英文」
2016.12.13
Top ways to beat stress
Work can sometimes be stressful. Read today’s article to find out what experts say are the best methods for reducing stress.
私たちにとって、時に仕事は大きなストレスになることがあります。ストレスの軽減にはどんな方法が良いとされているのか、専門家の見解について記事を読んでみましょう。
Work smarter, not harder
Managing your time efficiently can take hours off your working week. By simply setting goals every day and focusing on the most important tasks, you can leave the office earlier and still get all your work done on time. This means that you get to spend more time with family and friends. You also get a great feeling of achievement from completing the goals you set yourself.
Be active
Exercising every day, even for just half an hour, will help you feel more relaxed and stronger. It doesn’t have to be too tough either. You can start with simple things like going for a long walk. An easy way to do this is by getting off the train one stop early on your way to work. A good walk is not only good for your body, but will also mean you get to work with a clear head and ready to start your day on a good note.
Volunteer
Research suggests that people who take up volunteer jobs, such as helping old people, have much lower stress levels. It is thought that helping people who are not as lucky as you helps you to see your own problems in a different way. You also get a great deal of satisfaction from making a difference in other people’s lives.
Switch off
One of the biggest factors that cause stress is taking work home. This means both physical work and mental stress. It is really important for people to “switch off” from work and concentrate on their personal lives. Worrying about work when you are not in the office not only makes you feel stressed, but those around you suffer too. A good way to relax is to make sure you have a hobby or interest that takes your mind off work.
Avoid bad habits
Don’t use alcohol, tobacco, or tea and coffee as a way to deal with stress. Doctors call this “avoidance behavior”. It might make you feel better for a short time, but it does not lead to long-term solutions, and often just creates new problems. An easy way to avoid bad habits is to make time to meet friends outside of work. This gives you the chance to talk about what’s bothering you rather than relying on bad habits.
Work smarter, not harder
If you use your time well, your work week feels much shorter. If you set goals every day and do the most important tasks first, you can leave the office early and still do all your work on time. This means that you get to spend more time with family and friends. You also get a great feeling from completing the goals you set.
Be active
Exercising every day, even for just half an hour, helps you feel more relaxed and stronger. It doesn’t have to be too difficult. You can start with simple things like going for a long walk. Try getting off the train one stop early on your way to work. A good walk is great for your body, and it will also mean you start work with a clear head and in a good mood.
Volunteer
Research suggests that people who volunteer have much less stress. Volunteer jobs include things like helping old people. Helping people who are not as lucky as you makes you see your own problems in a different way. You also feel great when you are making a difference in other people’s lives.
Switch off
One problem that causes stress is taking work home. This means working at home and worrying about work. It is really important for people to stop thinking about work and think about their personal lives. Worrying about work when you are not in the office makes you feel stressed. A good thing to do is have a hobby that takes your mind off work.
Avoid bad habits
Don’t use alcohol, tobacco, or tea and coffee as a way to deal with stress. It might make you feel better for a short time, but it does not work in the long-term. It often just creates new problems. An easy way to avoid bad habits is to make time to meet friends. This gives you the chance to talk about what’s making you stressed rather than relying on bad habits.
キーフレーズ
from time to time 時々
clear head すっきりと冴えた頭
on a good note 良い調子で、気分良く
take up ～を始める
仕事や趣味などを始める、着手するという意味です。通常、定期的に行うことに対して使われます。
例：I’d love to take up watercolor painting.
（ぜひ水彩画を始めたいと思っている。）
a great deal of とても多くの、かなりの
非常に大きい程度や範囲、かなりの量を意味する表現です。
例：I have a great deal of confidence in our company president.
（私は自分の会社の社長を非常に信頼している。）
類義語：a large amount of / plenty of / a fair amount of / much
make a difference 改善する
switch off 頭を休める
何かについて考えることを止める、または誰かの話を聞くのを止める（興味をなくす）という意味で使われます。記事中では、家に仕事を持ち帰ったり、余暇や休息時間に仕事のことを考えたりするのは止める、という意味で使われています。
例：He wasn’t making any sense so I just switched off.
（彼の話は支離滅裂だったので聞くのを止めた。）
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