Rate how you manage stress (and notice what you can change!)

How do you manage stress? Everyone feels stressed from time to time. Yet there are ways to survive stressful times and ways to actually avoid much of life’s stressors if we make these actions and habits a priority.

After years of working with people as a psychotherapist, life coach and teacher, I’ve made a list of six categories of habits of people who manage stress well.

Take a look and notice what you already do – and what you might do differently to bring more calm into your life.

Care of self

• I get regular exercise, 20 to 30 minutes three or four times per week
• I attend to my body when I am hurt or fatigued.
• I get sufficient sleep (six to eight hours per night).
• I drink enough water (six to eight glasses per day).
• I eat whole foods in moderate portions and avoid sugary, processed and junk foods and beverages.
• I have a practice of meditation, prayer or simply sitting quietly that calms me.
• I take energizing breaks (walking, stretching, and visiting a friend).

Feelings

• I am comfortable with my feelings and accept my feelings.
• I do not turn to alcohol or drugs (prescription or street drugs) to take away uncomfortable emotions.
• I have people in my life to talk to about my feelings who are non-judgmental and willing to listen.

Social support

• I have a support network of friends, neighbors, family and others who care about me and cooperate with me. When I am with my support network, I feel valued and uplifted.
• I am in touch with my support network on a regular basis.
• I am part of social groups.
• I have a few people in my life where I can share my true feelings without judgment.
• I can ask for help when I need it.
• I see health professionals (physician, dentist, massage practitioner, psychotherapist, chiropractor, etc.) when needed and who are part of my extended support system.

Enjoying life

• I take time for humor, fun and play.
• I have hobbies that I enjoy that are not related to my work.
• I take vacations, even just one or two days off.
• Nature is part of my life in some way (plants, gardening, walks outdoors, etc.)
• I am involved in community service, either formally or informally, which fulfills me and which I genuinely enjoy.

 Planning

• I plan my day, week, month and year.
• I make to-do lists and set my priorities.
• I delegate when appropriate.
• I refrain from trying to controll others.
• I am able to be flexible and improvise new options if my plans don’t go the way I had hoped.
• I am kind to myself if I don’t get all my tasks completed in one day.

Responsibility and curiosity

• I have coping skills for dealing with difficult people.
• I am able to set boundaries with people who want to take advantage of me.
• I live within my financial means.
• I am curious about people.
• I seek out new ways to live life that are meaningful and satisfying.
• I value my creativity and look at life in a creative way.
• I know my stress “triggers” and am able to recognize them quickly and take action to make changes.