"STOP PUSHING YOURSELF TOO
HARD" RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS YOUR ONLY LIFE
AND YOU ARE YOUR LIFE DESIGNER. IT IS UP TO
YOU. DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.
TAKE RESPONSBILITY FOR HOW YOU FEEL"
Some very
effective stress management methods include:
Education
Find out as much as you
can about brain injury and rehabilitation. Search
the many available web sites that offer information about
brain injury. Read. Talk to others.
Attend seminars and conferences.
Join
a Support Group
Locate a local brain
injury support group. Take a chance. Get
involved. Go more than once. Talk to
others who may be in a similar situation.
Maintain/Improve
your Health
Eat balanced meals.
Avoid eating too little or too much. Avoid
alcohol. Exercise. Moderate aerobic exercise
helps to decrease stress-induced hormones and reduce
tension. Exercise is good for us both
physically and emotionally. Choose an exercise that
you enjoy. Go for a walk or a hike.
Swim. Go to an exercise class. Walk up and
down the stairs. If you enjoy it, you are more
likely to continue it. Get enough sleep. Have
some fun. (Check with your doctor first).
Relaxation/meditation
techniques
Take a deep breath.
Slow down your mind. Close your eyes and imagine
yourself in a relaxing place. Go on a mental
vacation. Light a candle. Listen to soothing
music. Learn porgressive muscle relaxation.
Take a yoga class. Take breaks often. Accept
that working harder does not mean working better or
smarter. Taking breaks can actually help you
accomplish more.
Set
reasonable goals and expectations
Recognize what you can and
cannot do. Learn to recognize what you do
best. Avoid taking on more than you can
handle. Define your priorities. Recognize
what othrs do best and ask for their help. Be
specific with your help requests. Negotiate time
lines and responsibilities. Focus on one thing at a
time. Work on your toughest responsibilities when
you are at your best.
Compose
a list of what you have accomplished
Regularly review your list
of accomplishments. Learn and recognize the
difference between what you would like to do and what you
are required to do.
Practice
good communication and negotiation skills
Express yourself
assertively. Learn to say "no" to things
that are not a priority to you and "yes" to
things you enjoy.
Find
the humour
In "The Anatomy of an
Illness as Perceived by the Patient," Norman
Cousins, a leader in research on the power of laughter in
illness and stress reduction, describes the positive
effects of laughter on tension, pain, breathing, and
mood. Be aware of how much you smile or
laugh. Try to find other people that help bring out
the laughter in you. As Anna Quindlen says in her
recent book, " A Short Guide to a Happy Life",
"Show up. Listen. Try to laugh."
Build
your self-esteem
Tell yourself things that
will help. Become aware of what messages you are
sending yourself. Avoid putting yourself
down. Stop pushing yourself too hard.
Recognize that this is your only life and you are your
life designer. It is up to you. Decide how
you want to live your life. Take responsibility for
how you feel.
It is important to
recognize that no single stress management strategy is
right for everyone. You must take an honest look at
yourself and decide what will work for you. Many of
these strategies can be effective. Choose the
techniques that are likely to be most effective for you
and then make the commitment to put them into
practice. This requires a plan of action.
Write your plan. Enlist others to support your
plan. Evaluate the plan's effectiveness on a
regular basis. Revise your plan, trying new
strategies when the ones you are using are not
effective. Stick to it.
Taking
care of yourself takes effort. YOU ARE WORTH IT!
(Source:
Premier Outlook magazine)
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