| The best way to reduce your stress is to really know | | | | Once you place your stressors into categories you |
| what it IS, that is making you stressed! So sit down for | | | | can easily see where your biggest tensions arise. Then |
| a minute and think about last year. You can look at a | | | | you can make changes to eliminate trouble spots. For |
| calendar to remind yourself of events, or appointments. | | | | instance, let's say you find driving the kids to school in |
| This may jog your memory, such as realizing that | | | | the morning can become lost time, thus putting you into |
| taking your kids to the doctor can stress you out. | | | | a "rush" sequence for the day. Maybe your husband |
| Stress can also grow from your surroundings. Are you | | | | can drop the kids at school on his way to work? Can |
| disorganized? Are your drawers and closets filled with | | | | he adjust his work schedule a half hour? Perhaps your |
| clutter? Do you waste a lot of time searching for | | | | children will have to chip in and start taking the bus or |
| items?o Determine your stressors (flip through last | | | | find a ride with a school friend. |
| year's calendar, talk to your spouse, look around your | | | | Another example could be that you get home too late |
| house, etc)o List them (if you can) in order of what | | | | to make a decent meal. You feel obligated to make a |
| stresses you the mosto Divide them into categories | | | | nutritious dinner but you are too tired to spend an hour |
| (related topics, i.e. meals, errands, carpool, clutter)o | | | | cooking. There are a few solutions. You may prepare |
| Determine how often a particular thing makes you feel | | | | meals over the weekend and freeze them for use |
| stress (daily, weekly, monthly). | | | | during the week. You may find a cookbook or a |
| Now you should have a pretty good idea of what | | | | website that offers easy, nutritious meals that you can |
| makes your blood boil. So your next step is to: | | | | prepare in 30 minutes or less. Find five or ten recipes |
| Get proactive | | | | you like and make them your weekday dinners. Maybe |
| It would be nice if we could wave a wand and all our | | | | you give yourself a night off and every Wednesday |
| stress would vanish. Of course that's not going to | | | | you order out or go out to a restaurant. |
| happen, but finding a solution WILL lower stress. You | | | | You may find that you are simply not organized. It's not |
| must commit your time to take positive action - get | | | | the cooking but knowing what to cook or having the |
| proactive! You can choose to do something about | | | | right ingredients. Her are some ideas:o Keep an |
| your level of anxiety or you can choose not to. It is not | | | | "on-going" grocery list on the refrigerator and find a |
| the kid's fault, the dogs fault, your bosses fault if you | | | | time to shop that works around your schedule.o |
| are continually in a stressful mode. It is your choice - so | | | | Delegate! Have your kids or your spouse cook one |
| choose to de-stress! | | | | night a week.o Create a box or file with only the |
| What will give you the most peace? | | | | recipes you like. Don't waste time reading through a |
| No matter what, you will run into stress. Yes you can | | | | cook book each night or trying to find a recipe in your |
| reduce it in many ways, but a good way to ride | | | | "junk" drawer! Divide recipes into categories such as |
| through the little stresses in life is combating the big | | | | dinner, lunch, snacks, quick meals, etc.o Change |
| one. This will be different for everybody. You may feel | | | | grocery stores and go to the store that offers already |
| grocery shopping is a nightmare. It is your biggest | | | | prepared meals. You can purchase whole, cooked |
| stress of the week? Well you HAVE to eat right? | | | | chickens, pasta, potatoes, salads etc., and start eating |
| Can your spouse do the shopping? Is it worth hiring a | | | | as soon as you walk in the door! |
| personal assistant that shops for you? Maybe your | | | | Do whatever it takes to get the peace you need |
| 16-year old would love the chance to drive to the | | | | Your home will only run as well as you do. It's |
| store? Give her a list and get her out of the house! | | | | important to do whatever it takes to get the peace |
| You may notice that you are late dropping the kids to | | | | you need. That often means putting yourself first. It is |
| school every day because you can't find your keys, | | | | not selfish to take care of yourself, it is irresponsible |
| the kid's lunch money, your son's football jersey, your | | | | not to. If you continue to build stress you will become ill. |
| daughter's flute. It is a fact that if you eliminate clutter | | | | What good will you be to your family if you are in bed |
| you will reduce stress. A place for everything is crucial! | | | | all day or worse, in the hospital? |
| But everything does not have to be in its place. This | | | | Try something new and don't be afraid to change the |
| depends on your needs and your life style. Will you find | | | | rules |
| peace if you stop running around in circles? | | | | Too many times we fall into a rut. We do it one way |
| Come up with solutions | | | | because it was always done that way. Unfortunately |
| How much time do you lose daily just looking for | | | | many people fear change, simply because it's |
| misplaced items? Hiring a Professional Organizer can | | | | unknown. But if you are so stressed, tired, or |
| be a solution for many. Professional Organizers do | | | | disorganized, how can it get worse if you sincerely try |
| more than clean out file cabinets. They help determine | | | | to change to make it better? |
| what aspects of your life are making you disorganized, | | | | For example, if you have a lot of clutter, I have a |
| whether in your home or office, and they find solutions | | | | simple principle to help you reduce that clutter and gain |
| that will make you more productive and less stressed. | | | | control of your life. Love it or lose it! |
| Often these solutions are so simple you wish you had | | | | Every item around you represents a choice you made. |
| thought of them years ago. | | | | You either went out and selected it; or it came to you, |
| Here are just a few simple solutions you can try | | | | and you accepted it. Look at that item, whether it is a |
| today:o Teach your children to use an alarm clocko | | | | piece of paper, a piece of jewelry, or a piece of |
| Set up a dry erase board or "list" where everyone | | | | furniture, and ask yourself do you love it? If you do not |
| rights down items they need. (If they don't put | | | | know that item to be useful, believe it to be beautiful or |
| chocolate milk or shampoo on the list, then you won't | | | | love it for personal reasons, it's time to get rid of it. |
| know to shop for it and they won't get it)o Have a | | | | You may find this principle will work on other aspects |
| dirty laundry basket in a central location. (If someone | | | | of your life. Do you love to coach softball? If not, why |
| needs a shirt for the next day, it better be in there or | | | | are you doing it? The kids won't benefit if coaching |
| they wear something else)o Create a "special place" | | | | stresses you out. If you are invited to potluck, do you |
| (folder, drawer, shelf) for your child to put the papers | | | | bring the potato salad that the hostess asked you to |
| he brings home from schoolo Let the answer machine | | | | bring or are you willing to tell her that you love to bake |
| take a message (return calls at YOUR convenience)o | | | | and would prefer to bring a cake? If making the salad |
| Keep extra supplies in your car. (put clothing, water, | | | | stresses you out, then change the rules a little. The |
| snacks, wipes in a bag that fits under the seat or in the | | | | solution may just make everybody happy! |
| trunk - trust me this will come in handy more than you | | | | Post the new plan |
| know)o Pack lunches the night beforeo Lay out | | | | You have a plan to reduce stress and you are doing a |
| clothes for school/work the night beforeo Run errands | | | | great job implementing it. But outside factors can get in |
| a non-rush hour times (if possible)o Limit what you can | | | | the way. So POST the new plan. Keep your calendar |
| do in a day. (Train yourself to not bite off more than | | | | in a place that everyone has access. Refer to a |
| you can chew!) | | | | central location for information (stop leaving notes all |
| Who can help you? | | | | over the house and in your pockets!). Plan ahead and |
| There are so many places to turn these days for help. | | | | keep the lines of communication open. Maybe it's time |
| Depending on your needs, you can find assistance in a | | | | that your whole family carries a cell phone. Give them |
| variety of ways. Your child's school may offer free | | | | a specific time to check in with you so you know their |
| classes or support groups. You can network with | | | | schedule. Now you will know in plenty of time whether |
| other parents, who feel the same stress as you, when | | | | to cook dinner for two or four. |
| you attend an open-house, career day or even your | | | | Stay in control. Assess the year as you go |
| daughter's soccer game. Your neighbors are a great | | | | Maintaining your success and keeping the process |
| source of help too. You may find a carpool, dog sitter | | | | flowing is essential. Take a real look at the |
| or a new friend. Turn to your spouse, sister, and | | | | improvements in your life and the reduction of your |
| friends for support. You can also look at hiring | | | | stress. That should be incentive enough to keep up the |
| individuals or a company for your particular needs. | | | | good work. But if you need a bit more encouragement |
| College students are often a good source for after | | | | then look for a support group or a person that will hold |
| school babysitting. Personal Chefs can do your | | | | you accountable. Maybe you buy your daughter new |
| shopping and cooking. Professional Organizers can | | | | earrings every time you are late picking her up from |
| restructure your files, closets and your lifestyle. | | | | band practice. Maybe she buys you a pair if she is late |
| Categorize the problems | | | | and you have to wait! You can also celebrate your |
| You may have done this already when you assessed | | | | success. If you manage to keep your desk top clean |
| your stresses. If not, then create categories now, and | | | | for a week you can treat yourself to a half hour soak |
| determine where your stresses fall. It is important to | | | | in the tub. Of course your husband will have to watch |
| know whether something makes you very stressed or | | | | the kids! Get him involved in helping you stay in control. |
| minutely stressed. Categories can include such things | | | | One persons stress can easily carry over to another, |
| as; driving, shopping, phone calls, volunteer work, travel, | | | | but on the flip side, if you are happy, those around you |
| kids, pets, other family responsibilities/commitments, | | | | will be too. |
| house maintenance, finances, cooking, cleaning. | | | | |