101 WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS

◊ Get up 15 minutes earlier ◊ Prepare for the morning the night before ◊ Avoid tight-fitting cloths ◊ Avoid relying on chemical aids ◊ Set appointments ahead ◊ Don’t rely on your memory … write it down ◊ Practice preventive maintenance ◊ Make duplicate keys ◊ Say “no” more often ◊ Set priorities in your life ◊ Avoid negative people ◊ Use time wisely ◊ Simplify meal times ◊ Always make copies of important papers ◊ Anticipate your needs ◊ Repair anything that doesn’t work properly ◊ Ask for help with the jobs you dislike ◊ Break large tasks into bite-size portions ◊ Look at problems as challenges ◊ Look at challenges differently ◊ Unclutter your life ◊ Smile ◊ Be prepared for rain ◊ Tickle a baby ◊ Pet a friendly dog/cat ◊ Don’t know all the answers ◊ Look for the silver lining ◊ Say something nice to someone ◊ Teach a kid to fly a kite ◊ Walk in the rain ◊ Schedule play time into every day ◊ Take a bubble bath ◊ Be aware of the decisions you make ◊ Believe in yourself ◊ Stop saying negative things to yourself ◊ Visualize yourself winning ◊ Develop your sense of humor ◊ Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better today ◊ Have goals for yourself ◊ Dance a jig ◊ Say hello to a stranger ◊ Ask a friend for a hug ◊ Look up at the stars ◊ Practice breathing slowly ◊ Learn to whistle a tune ◊ Read a poem ◊ Listen to a symphony ◊ Watch a ballet ◊ Read a story curled up in bed ◊ Do a brand new thing ◊ Stop a bad habit ◊ Buy yourself a flower ◊ Take time to smell the flower ◊ Find support from others ◊ Ask someone to be your “vent-partner” ◊ Do it today ◊ Work at being cheerful and optimistic ◊ Put safety first ◊ Do everything in moderation ◊ Pay attention to your appearance ◊ Strive for excellence NOT perfection ◊ Stretch your limits a little each day ◊ Look at a work of art ◊ Hum a jingle ◊ Maintain your weight ◊ Plant a tree ◊ Feed the birds ◊ Practice grace under pressure ◊ Stand up and stretch ◊ Always have a plan “B” ◊ Protect the environment ◊ Memorize a joke ◊ Be responsible for your feelings ◊ Learn to meet your own needs ◊ Become a better listener ◊ Know your limitations and let others know them too ◊ Tell someone to have a good day in pig latin ◊ Throw a paper airplane ◊ Exercise every day ◊ Learn the words to a new song ◊ Get to work early ◊ Clean out one closet ◊ Play patty cake with a toddler ◊ Go on a picnic ◊ Take a different route to work ◊ Leave work early (with permission) ◊ Put air freshener in your car ◊ Watch a movie and eat popcorn ◊ Write a note to a far away friend ◊ Go to a ball game and scream ◊ Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight ◊ Regognize the importance of unconditional love ◊ Remember that stress is an attitude ◊ Keep a journal ◊ Practice a monster smile ◊ Remember you always have options ◊ Have a support network of people, places and things ◊ Quit trying to “fix” other people ◊ Get enough sleep ◊ Talk less and listen more ◊ Freely praise other people ◊ P.S. Relax, take each day at a time … you have the rest of your life to live.