Propane Leaders Answer: How Do You Manage Stress?

Since I was behind on my deadline and needed to hurriedly develop a question and request replies on a tight due date, the topic of stress could not be more apropos this month. It turns out that our colleagues have some keen insights from their own lived experiences, which they share here. In this column, adopted from the familiar “Heard on the Street” format, we offer our responders a chance to answer the question posed in the title. These are their replies reported verbatim.

Stress Relief in the East

Managing stress is so important to our health. Exercise has always helped me, even if it is a quick walk or sitting and taking a breath. My favorite way to relieve stress is to go outside, look at nature, observe this wonderful earth and ask myself, ‘Will this matter six months from now?’ I also have faith that everything works out.

Laurie Irish-Jones
Irish Propane
Buffalo, New York

PRAY.

Judy Taranovich
Proctor Gas
Proctor, Vermont

When I read the question, “How do you handle stress?” my first thought was, “Probably not as well as I should.”

Then I thought, we can’t all handle stress like they do in a Hallmark movie. I’ve heard the ways that we should handle stress. Step back, take a breath and pray on it. I’m a work in progress on that. The way that I handle stress is to usually run the scenario past my wife. She is the calming influence for my mini meltdowns. It is amazing how a calming voice can alleviate a stressful situation.

Jon Shepard
VK Inspections LLC
Mercer, Pennsylvania

Since stress is an unavoidable part of life, I believe that finding healthy ways to manage it is imperative. Stress can present itself in many forms; however, being intentional on how you cope with it can make all the difference in improving your life.

What works for me is taking a long walk or having a conversation with a friend. I also like to do yoga every chance I get! I learned the hard way that if you do not manage stress in healthy ways (or at all), then other parts of your life will inevitably suffer.

Jessica Johnson
ThompsonGas
Asheville, North Carolina

Stress Relief in the Mid-States

Based on my blood pressure, I probably don’t manage it very well! But I do try to keep it under control, and I’ve found that exercise and more frequent vacations are some good ways to reduce stress.

Jason Soulon
Westmor Industries
Shawnee, Kansas

For me, stress comes from trying to do it all. Years of failure to accomplish “all of it” has led me to better prioritizing my days (I loved the book “The One Thing”). If I’m saying yes to you, it means that I’m saying no to someone or something else and I have learned to be OK with that. But if none of those things work, I love a ride in our Jeep. Somehow those always seem to end up involving ice cream, and we all know that ice cream fixes anything!

Tonya Crow
GROWMARK, Inc.
Bloomington, Illinois

If the stress is work related, I try to “turn off” at the end of the day and just do something different. Physical activity is always good, as is playing music or just spending time with Karen, my wife. If the stress is coming from another area, often I can get lost in my work, as well as the other things I mentioned. If the stress is coming from an interpersonal relationship, I’ll try to resolve things quickly and move on.

Bruce Swiecicki
National Propane Gas Association
Tinley Park, Illinois

How do I handle it? When I was young, I cried. Ugh, I hated that. It just happened — not often, but when the stress hit its peak, yes, I’m sad to say I cried. But then I felt better and picked up the pieces and got it done! As I got older, I came to the realization that whatever I was stressed out about might not have been as important as I was making it out to be. Approximately eight years ago, my husband died at age 57 to a rare form of cancer. That played a huge role in how I handled stress. Suddenly those things that caused stress no longer seemed as stressful. There is perspective in losing a loved one.

The important things in life are not the deadlines that we need to meet, but instead the important items are families, friendships, laughter, health and peace. I realized that in our jobs [at Rural Computer Consultants], no one is going to die if we make a mistake.

We are not doctors where lives depend on us. If we make a mistake, we own up to it and we fix it. I still strive to meet deadlines so people can trust my word. My work life has changed somewhat to allow that to happen. In the realization of the important things in life, the more capable I feel of letting much of that stress go!

Susan Peterson
Rural Computer Consultants
Bird Island, Minnesota

Stress is usually caused by an unforeseen challenge or feeling overwhelmed. If the stressor is sudden and unexpected, I assemble everyone who needs to be involved and tackle the issue as a team. We identify the problem, what actionable items can be addressed and assign a responsible party and a follow-up plan.

If I’m overwhelmed, it’s a sign that I need to get organized, so I manage it by regrouping. I make a list (sometimes breaking it into several lists of what is manageable in a given day), I delegate what I can and then I get to work, and continually reevaluate if I’m properly managing my expectations of myself and others so that the stress doesn’t build back up.

Lauren Clark
Bergquist
Toledo, Ohio

When I feel an excessive amount of stress, I try to get some free time on the schedule if I can. I’ll take a break and remind myself that whatever is bringing the stress is more my response to it than the situation itself.

Boyd H. McGathey
Energy Distribution Partners
Parkville, Missouri

Managing my stress is hardest when I feel completely overwhelmed. I have to remind myself that I can only do so many things in a day. What helps me most is to make a list of all the tasks I need to accomplish, and then prioritize which are the most important. If I need to get an earlier start to my day or put in some extra time at the end of my day, I will do that. Once I begin to check items off my list, I feel so much better!

Rosie Buschur
McMahan’s Bottle Gas
Dayton, Ohio

Stress Relief in the West

Balance. I must balance out my days, weeks and years. It is up to me to say yes or no to those things I put on my calendar. Along with work, I have to intentionally schedule in exercise, time with family, play, etc.

Stress is real. [I manage] my life [by only allowing] in it the stress that I have to handle and keep at bay the stress that is not under my control; for example, I cannot manage news, fake news or other people’s drama. Sometimes it is hard to know the difference, and that’s when I turn to the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Julie Johnson
Ted Johnson Propane
Baldwin Park, California

Most of my stress comes from my own procrastination. You would think at my age that I would know that I should only handle papers one time and start a project and ignore all distractions until the project is finished. There are so many things that are more fun or interesting than this project, so I allow them to take up my time.

It’s just like when Nancy sends out these questions with such a short response time. She is smart enough to know that given any more time, most of us would put off our responses and then let other papers or emails pile on top of hers so it would get lost. Thanks, Nancy, for the short lead time and the reminder that life is less stressful when we handle it once and get it done.

Chuck Kinnie
Shasta Gas Propane
Shasta, California

Oooommmmmmm

After more than two years of a pandemic, we have all learned a thing or two about managing the stress that accompanies the unknown, the over-worked and the human experience.

In the spiritual world, the Om symbol represents a sacred sound that is known generally as the sound of the universe. Om is all encompassing, the essence of ultimate reality; it unifies everything in the universe. Seems we humans have lately not had our full dosage of om.