Appendix M 12 WAYS TO ZAP STRESS NOW
2. Acknowledge your limitations. Don’t give up what you’re doing, just learn to do it differently or delegate. Be flexible when you ask for help: People may not do things just the way you want them to, or as fast as you’d like. 3. Break a big job into chunks and do the simplest part first. Success gives you confidence to go on. 4. Forget counting to 10. Count to 1,000 before you do or say something that could make matters worse. 5. Lower your standards. The world will not end if the lawn doesn’t get mowed this weekend. Learn to compromise when it comes to perfection - yours or someone else’s. 6. Think positive. For every one thing that goes wrong there are at least 10 times as many blessings. 7. Eliminate destructive phrases such as “I can’t” and “I’m too old” from your vocabulary. 8. Get enough sleep. If necessary, set an alarm to remind you to go to bed. 9. Exercise, even if you do range of motion exercises or yoga in a chair. Ask your physician what kind of exercise you can do. Aim for aerobic exercise three times a week. Walking (outside or on a treadmill) or swimming are great. Explore low-impact exercises such as yoga and tai chi, which act as polar opposites to stress. 10. Contact your local Arthritis Foundation office for tips on stress management and to meet other people with arthritis who can relate. Join a support group or take an Arthritis Foundation class. 11. Live one day at a time and do something you really enjoy each day. 12. Talk to the boss. Work can be stressful when your pain doesn’t stop between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Ask about adjusting your schedule or telecommuting. Or you may decide this is the time to venture out on your own. |