101 WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS

Courtesy of the Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii

Get up 15 minutes earlier Prepare for the morning the night before Avoid tight fitting clothes 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 a 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 flowers 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" Learn a new doodle 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 Recognize 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