19 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE STRESS

We are living in unprecedented and very stressful times. Every single one of us has experienced some level of stress in our lives and probably even more so in recent times, given the global pandemic and stressful current events, compounded with racial tension in the world. We are living in probably the most stressful times in history.  

There are many people still working from home , while taking care of their children and others, (essential workers) who have had to go to work during the entire quarantine.  Everyone is different and has a unique approach of how to relieve stress and what works for them.  This is not about politics or race or how to solve the world's problems, this is simply a guideline and idea to follow on ways to try to reduce your stress individually.

Below is a list of 19 things that can help to reduce your stress, compiled by Bob Schmidt, MS, LPC

1. Make time for self care each day; Listen to music, read, meditate, watch a movie.
2. Think positively and surround yourself with others who think the same.
3. Avoid the trap of demanding too much of yourself. Ask for help if tasks are too big for you.
4. Accept that you can’t control every situation.
5. At the start of each day, write down your list of things to do and then set reachable goals.
6. Divide big tasks into smaller more manageable ones.
7. Eat a well balanced diet. Avoid too much sugar, caffeine and alcohol.
8. Get plenty of sleep at night. If you are having trouble sleeping, talk to a professional about it.
9. Exercise moderately on a daily basis.
10. Re-frame your mistakes. Make them opportunities to learn.
11. It’s okay to say “no” to things that will only stress you out.
12. Talk to someone; a friend, a counselor, a religious leader.
13. Be ready to admit when you are wrong. It takes a big person to apologize.
14. Laugh! Look for the humor in life and take time to have fun. Watch a funny movie, read a funny book, Etc.
15. When you are feeling stressed or upset take a deep breath! Take long deep breaths and exhale slowly.
16. Remember that it is okay to cry. In fact, it is healthy to cry.
17. Let go of your anger. Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and hoping someone else will die. It really only hurts YOU!
18. Gratitude: Appreciate what you have instead of feeling bad about what others have
19. Forgive people who have wronged you. You may need to to forgive them each day, but it will help you in the long run.

Remember, "Life Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Wonderful!"

(ref. www.Bob SchmidtLPC.com)

PAINFUL EXPERIENCES

Trying not to let life events alter your mood or attitude is quite difficult but after reading Rick Hanson's (Ph.D) article, I am just learning how this can truly affect one's health.  I mean, I always believed in the "self-fulfilling prophecy" but scientifically speaking this really can be a big factor on your life.

He says this:  "Painful experiences are more than passing discomforts. They produce lasting harms to your physical and mental health. When you’re feeling frazzled, pressured, down, hard on yourself, or simply frustrated, that:
• Weakens your immune system
• Impairs nutrient absorption in your gastrointestinal system
• Increases vulnerabilities in your cardiovascular system
• Decreases your reproductive hormones; exacerbates PMS
• Disturbs your nervous system

Consider the famous saying: “Neurons that wire together, fire together.” This means that repeated painful experiences – even mild ones – tend to:
• Increase pessimism, anxiety, and irritability
• Lower your mood
• Reduce ambition and positive risk-taking

In a couple, upsetting experiences foster mistrust, heightened sensitivity to relatively small issues, distance, and vicious cycles. At much larger scales – between groups or nations – they do much the same.

So don’t take painful experiences lightly, neither the ones you get nor, honestly, the ones you give. 

Prevent them when you can, and help them pass through when you can’t. ~

STRESS

So there's this huge possibility that the transplant can be
THIS Wednesday!!! We got an "unofficial comment" from a staff
member. Can you imagine? All the planning I did before, what
to do with the kids, where to stay, camp, babysitter, the traveling
back & forth.

Now, there is NO plan in place!!! The meeting is Monday morning at
10a.m. so by noon we should know if the transplant is on and if it
is indeed this week - yikes!!

Keep ya posted....literally.