白領抗壓，妙計幾多？

現代社會，誰沒壓力?不知道從何時起，壓力這個詞成為眾人的口頭禪，朋友見面聊天總會說上幾遍。但是，壓力過大且得不到緩解，最終遭殃的還是本來已經岌岌可危的健康。所以，學會幾招抗壓妙計還是相當必要的。

Stephanie: Ah， what a day! I don’t know how you do it， Rod.

Rod: Do what?

Stephanie: ①Keep such a level head all the time. Don’t you ever feel like you are going to 1)crack under all the pressure?

Rod: Trust me， ②when I was in your shoes， I had my fair share of meltdowns. But after a while you learn， unless you have some sort of release outside of the office， you’re never going to make it. When you walk out those doors， you have to switch off work.

Stephanie: ③Easier said than done. I’ve got reports to file， client meetings， and speeches to give. It’s all buzzing around in my brain.

John: No， he’s right， Steph. If you keep thinking about all the work stuff， ④you are writing yourself a one-way ticket to the funny farm. You’ve got to get yourself a hobby， or something to relax your mind.

Stephanie: What do you do? I’m not sure I have the time or energy for anything once I get home at the end of

the day.

Rod: ⑤That’s the oldest excuse in the book. Everyone can make time if they really want something. Even if it’s one hour of reading before you go to sleep each night.

John: For me， it’s hitting the gym. The workout lets all the stress out and I am guaranteed to sleep like a rock afterwards.

Rod: My wife got me into yoga. I was so reluctant to do it; I thought it was only for girls， but I’ll tell you what， some of those positions are 2)mighty difficult to pull off. It’s so

3)cleansing， though. You should join us if you are keen.

Stephanie: I’ll definitely keep it in mind. But I might start out with something I can manage within my own home. Looks like it’s time to bust out the knitting needles.

John: ⑥Each to their own.

史蒂芬妮:啊，漫長的一天!我都不知道你是怎么做到的，羅德。

羅德:做到什么?

史蒂芬妮:一直保持頭腦清醒啊。你從來沒覺得壓力快把你逼瘋了嗎?

羅德:相信我，當我還在你這個階段的時候，也幾近崩潰。但是過一段時間你會發覺，除非你在辦公之余找些釋緩壓力的方法，要不你永遠不可能應付得來。當你走出這幾扇門，你就必須把工作放下。

史蒂芬妮:說起來容易做起來難。我還要遞交報告、與客戶開會，還要作演講。這些全在我腦子里嗡嗡地響個

不停。

約翰:不，他是對的，史蒂芬。如果你一直想著工作的事情，無異于把自己送入精神病院。你得給自己找個興趣愛好，或者別的什么能讓你放松頭腦的

東西。

史蒂芬妮:那你們通常會做些什么?我都不確定我下班回家之后還有沒有時間和精力來做這些事。

羅德:這借口都老掉牙了。如果真的想，任何人都能擠出時間來。就算只是每天晚上入睡前讀一個小時書也好啊。

約翰:我會去健身房運動。運動能釋放所有的壓力，而且能保證我運動過后會睡得跟石頭一樣沉。

羅德:我妻子讓我去做瑜珈。我一開始很不情愿，覺得那是女孩做的運動，你知道嗎，瑜珈的某些姿勢真的很有難度。但它的確能使你的身體順暢起來。如果你愿意，你可以跟我們一起練。

史蒂芬妮:我會牢記你的建議。不過我想還是先從一些在我的房間里就能做的運動著手?？磥硎菚r候重新拾回針線活兒啦。

約翰:每個人都有自己的選擇。

Smart Sentences

① Keep such a level head all the time. 一直保持頭腦清醒啊。

level head: remain calm and sensible even in a difficult situation(頭腦冷靜)。例如:

My supervisor is known for keeping a level head in crisis.

我的上司在危急關頭保持頭腦清醒是出了名的。

② When I was in your shoes， I had my fair share of meltdowns. 當我還在你這個階段的時候，也幾近崩潰。

in sb.’s shoes: in another’s situation(處于某人的位置)。例如:

I don’t want to be in his shoes.

我可不愿意身陷他的處境。

③ Easier said than done. 說起來容易做起來難。

Easier said than done. = It’s easier said than done.

easier said than done: actually doing sth. is more difficult than how it sounds(說起來容易做起來難)。例如:

—Dad， let’s take a cycling trip to the beach tomorrow.

爸，我們明天騎車去海邊吧。

—You don’t know the road. It’s easier said than done.

你不了解路況，這事說起來容易做起來難。

④ You are writing yourself a one-way ticket to the funny farm. (你)無異于把自己送入精神病院。

a one-way ticket to somewhere: a course of action that will certainly lead to a situation(行動或某種行為方式會導致某種結果)。例如:

Smoking is a one-way ticket to doom.

抽煙必將帶來厄運。

funny farm: mental institute(精神病院)。例如:

Mrs. Gordon finally ended up in the funny farm after her husband repeatedly cheated on her.

多次被丈夫背叛后，戈登夫人最終進了精神病院。

⑤ That’s the oldest excuse in the book. 這借口都老掉牙了。

the oldest excuse in the book: the most commonly used excuse(最常見的借口)。例如:

You got a flat tire? Come on， that’s the oldest excuse in the book for being late. Think of something creative.

你的車胎癟了?得了吧，這是老掉牙的遲到借口了，來點新鮮的。

⑥ Each to their own. 每個人都有自己的選擇。

each to his/their own: everyone has the right to his/her choice， used to express respect/recognition/tolerance for others’ choices， especially the unusual ones(每人都有權選擇，用以表達對他人選擇——特別是不太常見的選擇——的尊重/接受/容忍)。例如:

—I want to decline the promotion and ask for a transfer to the Shipping Department. Does it sound ridiculous to you?

我想推掉這次晉升，要求調到運輸部門。你覺得這很怪異嗎?

—No! Each to their own.

不會，每個人都有自己的選擇。