Set your alarm clock
to get up at least 15 minutes earlier in the a.m.
Write down a schedule
of your appointments for the week; this will take much of the frenzy out
of your life wondering where you are going next.
Eat three well-balanced
meals per day, including breakfast.
Avoid excessive sugar,
salt, animal fats, and processed white flour. Limit caffeine and alcohol
intake. Do not smoke!
Pursue a regular program
of physical activity.
Engage in an enjoyable,
healthy hobby.
Get enough sleep and
rest. Listen to your body---it won't lie to you.
Be realistic about
personal standards. Being unrealistic creates unnecessary stress.
Schedule time and activities
alone and with others in order to maintain a well-rounded lifestyle of working
and living. Remember: your life is not just your place of employment.
Identify, accept, and
pursue emotional needs. Nurture and maintain healthy relationships with
friends.
Recognize your own
physical and behavioral signs of stress early on and take action against
the stressor.
Practice abdominal
breathing, imagery, and relaxation daily.
Talk out problems with
a close friend, spouse, or a professional. This will help clarify some of
the negative and irrational thinking that often comes with feeling stress.
Learn about your own
boundaries and be consistent in enforcing them. Learn to say no.
Reward yourself each
and every day. Take time for yourself---a warm bath, treating yourself to
ice cream or a movie. You deserve it!
