If you've recently experienced loss or are going through a time of high-stress or uncertainty, it's important that you make a special effort to look after yourself. Here are a few things you can do to care for yourself physically and emotionally:
- Take time out. If you can get away from your usual environment then do so. Go away for the weekend or even a day ? do something different or something you enjoy and do it just for you.
- Spend time with people you care about. Your friends and family know you best and will be supportive and there for you. It's wonderful how you find true friends when the chips are down.
- Treat yourself. Get pampered or whatever allows you to indulge yourself. Book a relaxing massage, get retail therapy, savour a glass of your favourite wine or spend a whole day reading a book.
- Look after your body. At times of stress our eating habits change. We're more likely to reach for packaged or convenience foods. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables and provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to be able to deal with the stress. Your immune system takes a bashing under stress so look after it as your more susceptible to illness.
- Exercise. It's a great way to get those endorphins going which can help lift your mood and as I mentioned last month - solvitas perambulum ? solve it while you walk. The rhythm of exercise and breathing gives your mind time to think. As it's summer go outdoors and take in some sunshine while you're at it.
- Don't overdo the caffeine or alcohol. It might give you a temporary buzz but it will affect your sleep and you need to ensure you're getting plenty of that too.
- Write it down. Sometimes it can help to write down our thoughts and feelings on paper. It gets them out there and out of our head and when put into black and white it can take some of the emotion out or put them into perspective.
- Do something positive. Don't indulge yourself for too long but give yourself something to look forward to. Arrange to go to a concert, film, theatre, a weekend away. Keep yourself moving forward. Set yourself little tasks everyday.
- Volunteer. There's nothing more uplifting that doing something for someone else. Take yourself out of your head for a few hours and feel the benefit of helping others.
- PMA. Positive Mental Attitude. What can you learn from this experience? Instead of focusing on the negative, what's a positive outcome for your situation?
- Relaxation ? learn to relax. Whether it's doing something like yoga, meditation or just simple breathing techniques - take a few minutes each day to quiet your mind. (Drop me an email if you'd like some ideas on relaxation techniques.)
- Take Action. Yes, that 'A' word again. What one thing can you do to change where you're at? Go and do it!
What's your coping mechanism? How do you deal with stress? Learn to recognise and deal with stress before it builds up by looking after yourself on a regular basis not just when things get too much.
If you'd like to learn more or need support recognising and dealing with stress then contact me directly.
Clare Evans ? Personal and Business Coach
Website: http://www.clareevans.co.uk
Do more of what you want, less of what you don't.
I work with individuals and small business owners to help them organise their time more effectively and create a better work life balance - enabling them to spend more time doing what they want and less time doing what they don't.
Contact me today to find out how to create balance in your life.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to my Free Monthly Newsletter with tips on managing your time more effectively, creating balance, reading and fun, email claresnews@aweber.com.
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their exacting demands... Read More
Recently the well known American news anchor Peter Jennings died... Read More
I recently received this e-mail message about stress management (author... Read More
Have you recently moved or started a new job? Do... Read More
I am worried. I have been biting my nails for... Read More
Of all the forms of stress in today's world, computer... Read More
Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More
Stress relief and managementRecognizing stress symptoms can be a positive... Read More
Let's face it. If you are stressed, agitated and flitting... Read More
At what age does the benefit of play cease? Child... Read More
The Problem You don't need me to tell you how... Read More
Q:We recently had someone come to our company to talk... Read More
Insomnia is usually the result of the modern way of... Read More
If you find symptoms of anxiety disorder in any of... Read More
The best way to reduce your stress is to really... Read More
We are currently living in a capitalist society where money... Read More
"The great lesson from the true mystics, from the Zen... Read More
Defending your point of view can use up a lot... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
In the body, the stress response is mediated by the... Read More
Many CEOs see stress as an intractable problem which would... Read More
This heading may seem like a contradiction in terms. How... Read More
Seventy-five percent of all our problems ? both emotional and... Read More
Loneliness and separation are the real illness of our times.... Read More
Burt Reynolds revealed his vulnerable side when he realized he... Read More
led manufacturers usa led area floodlight Pete's produce ..When it is all said and done, do you feel... Read More
Have you recently moved or started a new job? Do... Read More
In order to understand stress better, it is a good... Read More
The number one most popular issue that users of a... Read More
Punch a pillowScream into a pillowTurn on your favorite music... Read More
Stress is normal. Stress is OK. Stress is the same... Read More
Rhodiola Rosea is the latest natural remedy to join the... Read More
Deceiving? You bet they are. How? Without your even knowing... Read More
Of all the forms of stress in today's world, computer... Read More
Recently the well known American news anchor Peter Jennings died... Read More
Statistics show that all of us experience stress at one... Read More
Mark Twain once said, "It's not what we don't know... Read More
Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More
I came out of a nightmare 5-year period of anxiety... Read More
With almost 50% of workers complaining that their jobs are... Read More
As tools for change are discussed, one tool - that... Read More
It's no secret that we women, by virtue of our... Read More
Preparing for sleep the night before is the place to... Read More
Modern stress is habitual, and is something that the vast... Read More
Amazing thing, overwhelm!You don't usually see it coming. It just... Read More
Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and... Read More
"Do you want to be a lump of coal or... Read More
File this one under the category of "watch your language."The... Read More
1. The Mentor Method: think of your favorite person. Someone... Read More
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting... Read More
Stress Management Stress Management |