25 Stress Reducers

POISE – Be Ready For Anything

• Get up 15 minutes earlier every morning.  The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful.
• Prepare for the morning the evening before.  Set the breakfast table, make lunches, put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.
• Allow 15 minutes extra time to get to appointments. 
• Schedule a realistic day.  Avoid the tendency to schedule back-to-back appointments; allow time between appointments for a breathing spell.
• Ask questions along the way.  Take a few moments to repeat directions or what someone expects of you. This can save hours. 
• Plan ahead. For instance, don’t let the gas tank drop below one quarter. Keep a well-stocked emergency shelf of home staples, and do not wait until you are down to your last item to buy more.

POSTURE - Get There First

• Get up 15 minutes earlier every morning.  The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful.
• Prepare for the morning the evening before.  Set the breakfast table, make lunches, put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.
• Allow 15 minutes extra time to get to appointments. 
• Schedule a realistic day.  Avoid the tendency to schedule back-to-back appointments; allow time between appointments for a breathing spell.
• Ask questions along the way.  Take a few moments to repeat directions or what someone expects of you. This can save hours. 
• Plan ahead. For instance, don’t let the gas tank drop below one quarter. Keep a well-stocked emergency shelf of home staples, and do not wait until you are down to your last item to buy more.

PURSUIT - Take Control Of Your Life

• Pollyanna Power! For every one thing that goes wrong, you probably have 10 or 50 blessings. COUNT THEM.
• Focus on loving rather than being loved.
• Talk it out. Discussing your problems with a trusted friend can help clear up confusion and allow you to concentrate on problem solving.
• Say No! Save yourself time, energy and regret. Start saying no to those extra projects, social activities, and invitations. Remember that everyone, every day, needs quiet time to relax and to be alone.
• Unplug the phone. Drum up the courage to disconnect temporarily.  (The possibility of a terrible emergency in the next hour is almost nil.) Let your friends know the best (and the worst) time to call. Stick to a schedule so there are no surprises. Use this time to take a bath, meditate, nap, read or walk. Do whatever it takes to recharge your batteries and refresh your spirit.
• Eliminate destructive self-talk.  “I’m too old to... will never be able to... I’m too fat to...”
• Learn to delegate responsibility to others.
• Simplify, simplify, simplify. In every area, in every way, simplify.