"Could less Whining Mean Less Stress?"

So I took this article from the current issue of Nursing Spectrum. While it may not all apply to you, it is something to think about. I know I am guilty of the self-induced stress.

"Please let's not whine about this; it'll just delay things and make us all more nervous-and we have to get it done by tomorrow!!" These words from a member of our staff got me thinking recently about something that might be at the heart of a lot of the stress we all feel. And although we'd probably all agree that a little unloading, unburdening, and 'sharing' how we feel about things can be worthwhile, even therapeutic at times, it's the less-effective, more annoying, time-wasting, plain old 'whining' that I'm referring to.

Too much to do, too many demands, and too little time: isn't that how you often feel? I know I do. But I wonder if I sometimes make things worse by going on and on about having to do them rather than just doing them? Complaining can take up a lot of time and be exhausting, but it helps us put off the actual 'doing' of the dreaded task. And I know that when I really don't want to do something, I'm good at wasting time on some of the world's greatest stall tactics - which can include whining - to delay getting started. But here's the really important question: does it make me feel any better, or does it in fact increase my stress, because the time wasted puts me even further behind with my 'to do' list?

... You've allowed most of the incoming mail to accumulate on your hall table for several weeks; you know there are a number of bills in the pile that are due or maybe overdue, and you feel stressed every time you pass the table. But you keep restacking the piles and re-stocking your supply of excuses for not getting to them. Then, when you finally take out your checkbook and get started, you find yourself feeling even more stressed about the penalties and late fees you owe! ...

I remember my mother telling us that it would take more time for us to talk about having to do something than it would to do it. I guess it was her nice way of saying, 'Stop whining and let's get it done!' I wonder if she knew that she was not only preempting complaints from the peanut gallery, but using a really good stress-avoidance tactic as well? By sort of 'jolling' us into it with the promis that it wouldn't take long, she got us to do what she wanted, and avoided a long, stressful harangue in the bargain. And when we were done, we'd always wait for her to say, 'See, it takes longer to talk about it.' And she always did.

I don't know; maybe we'll never be able to stop whining completely, because it does feel sort of good, doesn't it? And it just sort of happens. But mabye we can at least try to cut down on the amount of it we do, and in the process we may find that our stress levels go down. Let's all think about that the next time we get that overwhelming 'urge to whine.' Our helath could be at stake."

Written by; Eileen P. Williamson, RN, MSN