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TwitThisMore Tips for the Hurried
Catch up. If you're always running late, sit down with a pencil and paper and see how you're actually allotting your time. Say it takes 40 minutes to get to work. Are you leaving your home on time? You may very well be able to de-stress life a bit just by being realistic. And if you can't find the time for all the activities that are important, maybe you're trying to do too much.
Get physical. Burn off a rush of stress with a 15-minute walk. Studies show that those who regularly exercise sleep better than those who don't.
Find spiritual friends. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Washington found that those who routinely hang out with others who share their religious beliefs were less likely to be affected by stress when confronted with major stressors.
Dilute the effects of stressful people. One example: If you don't get along with your father-in-law but don't want to make an issue of it, invite other in-laws at the same time you invite him. Having other people around will absorb some of the pressure you would normally feel.
Ditch the multitasking. Can't remember what you did all day or what you accomplished? Boy, that'll jack up your stress level! Unfortunately, multitasking only looks as if you're accomplishing a lot. Studies suggest that it actually impairs memory and performance.
Try doing only one thing at a time for a few days. You'll be able to remember what you've accomplished each day and -- if you've done a good job -- feel relaxed about your work at the end of the day.
Take some time to say thanks. Take 10 minutes every morning to sit down, close your eyes, and give thanks for the blessings in your life. Name each one, and hold the purpose in your thoughts. The sense of gratitude you'll experience will set a serene tone for the entire day.
Choose not to get angry. Being angry not only revs your stress motor, it makes you feel bad. So next time someone cuts into your lane on the freeway, recognize your instinctive surge of adrenaline and then decide not to let it control you. Instead, smile and say to yourself, "I'm not going to let someone like that affect how I feel." Amazingly, it works.
Cover the basics. As you work on bringing your stressors under control, pay attention to the basic framework that sleep experts say will set your body's circadian rhythms for nighttime sleep.
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