Relieve stress with photography - Brief Article

Everyone has experienced some stress in life. According to the United States Department of Labor, the workplace is the single greatest source of stress. In addition to complicated issues, long work hours are a common factor in causing stress. How to manage the stress of life and avoid "burnout" depends on personal effort and choice.

It is common knowledge that exercise is essential to physical and emotional health. Various types of relaxation exercises can help reduce stress too, including "planned distractions" such as reading an interesting book, going to a movie, or enjoying your favorite hobby.

My chosen "distraction" is photography. It is good medicine for relaxation and gives esthetical joy while helping to rest the mind. After a stressful day at work, reading photographic books, taking pictures, developing film, or making prints in the basement darkroom brightens my outlook on life. It is a mini-vacation that gives "positive rest."

I enjoy my work, which is research. It is a work of exploring new ways to see the world. By the same token, photography is using a camera and lens, as well as darkroom equipment or a computer, to explore different ways of expressing a photographer's feelings by making his own visual image for sharing. The result? A gift to yourself ... a lifetime reward based on your hard work, wonderfully accomplished with your own skills. Giving yourself a reward treats your stress in the same way you would enjoy a favorite meal.

Somebody might say that if he could not make a good picture after work, it would cause even more stress. However, that would depend on how the issue is managed. Sometimes the temporarily stressful issue can serve as inspiration for further exploration. "Failure is the mother of success!" If you can see the situation positively, it will encourage you to try again on the next day - fulfilling your interest and curiosity. In the end, your hard work will be justified and you have your reward. The skills gained will be enjoyed throughout life.

I live this philosophy and enjoy life. I work more efficiently in the working place. Photography has treated my stress well.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Photographic Society of America, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group