Take Care of Yourself

Abstract

HOW CAN I LOWER MY STRESS LEVEL?  Exercise  Sensory Nurturing such as warmth, good food, hot tub or bubble bath, finger painting  Relaxation and Imagery Practices  Meditation and Yoga  Sleep gives your mind and body a chance to recover  Laughter – watch a comedy  Set priorities and learn to say ‘no’ to reduce the sense of being overwhelmed  Music, dance or other expressive, creative activity  Assertiveness Training – when we can’t assert ourselves, needs go unmet, feelings get hurt, and stress rises  Reward yourself for work accomplished or hurdles crossed  Express your emotions to a friend or loved one – bottled up feelings are a ticket to increased baseline stress  Avoid using drugs to lower your stress, since they can lead to other problems and limit your opportunity to grow and learn new skills