Some of us feel as if we have to keep up. None of us can completely escape the effects of stress (as I am feeling right now as I have made the commitment to get an article out every month and feeling that half the month has gone already. I am stressed-out about what my readers will think of me).

However, as Dr. Carlson said," don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff".

Thoreau wrote: " I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach."

As many of us are not able to live such a stress-free life, following are 10 tips for taming tension and stress. I hope at least one will work for you.

• Change your response to the world — it's not the stressor but our response to it.



• Laughter is the best medicine — there's no fun in medicine but a lot of medicine in fun.



• Become productive not destructive — learn lessons from life, don't keep making the same mistakes.



• Be a "Competent Coper" — Dr. Maddi — know when perfection is not possible and adjust.



• Get rid of anger — know your stress threshold.



• Make a "hit-List" — so much to do so little time-prioritize — do what you can, now.



• Nurture your spirituality — find peace of mind, regularly.
• Stop Procrastinating! — set achievable goals. Don't fail to plan or you'll plan to fail.
• "Don't go there" — that well known phrase that,to me, means anywhere negative, critical, unsupportive, or that causes you to lose control, self-respect, or your mind!



• Slow Down — get a hobby ... take a vacation (I love to read — is that a hobby?) — "make use of the present moment" - Chopra.

Joan Woods is a motivational speaker and trainer who has over 10 years experience working with children and families as a certified social worker. She is dedicated to helping parents in organizations and companies realign their priorities in order to live better, more effective and productive lives.

Family | Career | Art of Juggling | Single Moms | Health
Dad's Voice | Bookshelf | News | Recipes | Sports Mom | Discussion Lists
Business Directory | The Boards | Wisdom of Mothers | Postcards | Resources
Search | About Us | Contact Us |Advertising on the Refuge | Home

Copyright © 2000   Working Moms Refuge.