Beat Stress!

By Darren J. Gillespie, LCSW

Notice your stress – are you in the window of   manageable stress?

 

• Address each of your stressors – list all of your stressors, then for each, brainstorm to either cut it out, address and resolve it, or come up with a new way to respond to it.

• Slow your pace – don’t take on so much at once, make changes to get back to a more casual pace of life. Learn to rest your cell phone more often.

• Learn to say no – Remember: “no one ever died from feeling disappointment” Julie Hanks. See others as capable, not helpless. Use your social supports and delegate more. Never answer on the spot: “I need to see about that and get back to you”.

• Care for your body – give yourself 8 hours of sleep every night. Exercise 30 min. 3-5- days/week. Eat healthy foods (whole foods) – cut sugary drinks.

• Reintroduce leisure – 1^st Make a long list of things you once enjoyed and some things you have always wanted to try. 2^nd Start scheduling them into you life.

• Meditate daily – 5-10 min. Focus on breathing and keep bringing mind back to breaths when it wanders.

 

Remember – you have choices – you can choose to make these changes.