Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
Stress Busters

1. Drink enough water and eat nutritiously, including snacks.
2. Find something funny to watch or think about.
3. Check posture. Stretch and straighten out the spine. Stand up tall if you've been sitting.
4. Think back to childhood: what was enjoyable then? Whether it be reading, dancing, running, or playing with paper dolls, schedule time to allow your freedom of expression this way.
5. Slow down. Intentionally talk more slowly and move more slowly for a few minutes, until you feel your heart rate decrease.
6. Go outside. Even standing in the sun for five minutes may help.
7. Lower expectations of yourself and of others. Make achievable goals.
8. Take a deep breath. Count to 10. Take another one. Count to 10 again.
9. Plan a reward after a stressful day. Put it on your list along with the other things that have to be done. And don't cross off the reward till you feel rewarded.
10. Say 'no' more often, and teach yourself not to feel bad about it.
11. Let go. Don't allow yourself to ramp up. As someone once told me, "If you don't want to get bitten, don't pick up any snakes."
12. Do something aerobic. Go for a walk around the building, climb a few flights of stairs, run out to your car and back...something that gets your heart going in a positive way.
13. Do one thing on The List. Pick one you can do fairly quickly and just get it done. That may energize you to find something else to work on, and maybe finish. Etc.