Local executives share myriad methods of surviving stress

Deadlines. Meetings. Presentations. More meetings. Dealing with the budget. You get the idea.

It all adds up to stress on the job.

And the more stressful circumstances people endure, the greater likelihood that an illness will follow.

Medical experts say that people who are chronically stressed are more likely to take up smoking, frequently overeat and become less likely to exercise. This combination can put people at risk for heart attack or stroke.

People who work in high-stress jobs need an outlet, and most medical experts recommend exercise. Business executives can be found swinging a club on the golf course after a tough day. Others might lob tennis balls across a net, slam a handball into a wall or jog away the stresses of the day on a walking trail.

Others may find release in a more inward-directed way -- through meditation, Yoga, massage or reading a good book.

Nutritionists recommend cutting down on caffeine, eating a balanced diet, and getting adequate rest or sleep each day.

The key is to find a way to relax, find some balance, and let go of whatever is causing stress.

"I'm constantly remodeling my house," said Dennis Marchi, general manager of the Schnucks grocery store in Cape Girardeau. "I go from project to project to project."

Marchi said he helped both of his sons build new houses within the last 12 months. After days of keeping a large grocery store running smoothly, he finds it relaxing to pick up a saw or a hammer and build something.

"I just enjoy doing it," he said. "Since I got in my home 20 years ago, I have changed every room two or three times."

Michael Jennewein, human resources manager at Proctor & Gamble of Cape Girardeau, agrees with the medical experts who recommend exercise to relieve stress. Jennewein says he walks, does stretching exercises and works in his yard and garden as a way of unwinding. Being physically active, he said, is one good way to let off a little steam.

"I know a lot of people here who belong to health clubs, fitness centers, and sports teams at the recreational level," he said. "There are a lot of active people. There are always ways to do it."

Nancy Jernigan, director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, combines physical activity with a more inward method of shedding the stress from her busy day. Her outlook toward her job is one way she can stay in control of any stresses.

"I love my job so much it doesn't cause me so much stress," Jernigan said.

Like other busy executives, Jernigan relies on exercise to relieve whatever stress comes her way. She said that she and her husband routinely work out together. She prefers to combine a weight-lifting program with an aerobic routine. Sometimes, she and her husband hit the walking trail.

"I really like the elliptical machines," she said. "There's no wear and tear on the knees like the treadmills."

What really works for Jernigan, she said, is simply to let go of whatever it is that is stressing her out and turn it over to a higher power.

"My faith is what really takes away a lot of stress for me," she said. "I just realize why put not put it all on His shoulders and take it off mine. And I am pretty good at that. I don't worry about social pressures and stresses that come along with them and I find myself less worried about them."