101 Way to Cope with Stress

In our hurried and harried world, it is common for people to feel stress. We as caregivers may face more stress than average due to the many added challenges we face.

While stress is a natural part of life, it doesn’t have to become a way of life. If we find simple and practical tools to manage stress, we may be healthier and happier. The trick is to think proactively about stress. Integrate moments of relaxation, contemplation, and fun as a regular part of your daily life. The following 101 tips will hopefully inspire you and encourage you to enjoy a more stress-free way of living:

Laugh out loud without worrying about what the neighbors will think. There is nothing more cathartic then a good belly laugh.
Stand in the rain with your mouth open and taste the raindrops with your tongue.
Get a box of crayons and color. Grab a coloring book and color outside the lines!
Eat dinner with no silverware. Use your hands only!
Play with PlayDoh®.
Read your favorite book for the second or third time.
Sing out loud; sing in the shower– just sing!
Dance – alone or with a partner. Or simply whirl in circles.
Wear mismatched clothes around the house, or better yet out in public.
Learn to meditate and practice daily.
Take 10 deep breaths in the morning and 10 more at night.
Get a massage.
Take a long walk.
Have a cup of tea with a friend.
Find that box of photographs and invite family and friends over for a “figure out who this could be party.”
Give a hug.
Get a hug. Preferably multiple hugs.
Kiss someone you love.
Take a bubble bath.
Wear your PJs to work one day. Make one day a week “Extremely Casual Day.”
Send someone you love flowers-maybe yourself.
Go outside and skip around the house.
Whistle like a bird.
Say 10 nice things about yourself each morning in the mirror.
Make a list of things you are thankful for.
Stop judging and criticizing yourself.
Learn to become an observer of your life.
Look up and find images in the clouds.
Bend over and smell a flower.
Skip rope.
Get a houseplant from a friend, family, or local market and care for it each day. Talk to it every day.
Let go of small stuff.
Write the story of your Life. (You can start with your favorite experience, and go from there).
Forgive someone you found unforgivable.
Focus on one thing at a time.
Keep a journal of thoughts and feelings.
Take Me time everyday.
Let go of guilt.
Take a hot bath with candles and soothing music.
Take a deep breath through your nose and into your belly, and release it with aloud sigh.
Ask for help when you need it.
Reduce clutter – donate things you do not really need to those who might them more.
Get organized – one corner at a time.
Reduce your time watching the news – or go on a week long news fast
Read an inspirational book.
Exercise for pleasure – not just for fitness.
Be open-minded about a new idea.
Plan a “retreat day” in your own home.
Live in the present, not the future or the past.
Decide to have more fun.
Create positive affirmations and use them regularly.
Try to find inner peace.
Learn visualization techniques.
Take a deep breath.
Spend a day in silence.
Stretch your body every hour.
Smile, Smile, Smile – smiling releases endorphins.
Take a class in assertiveness skills.
List your accomplishments.
Look for the beauty in life.
Watch a comedy.
Finger paint.
Play with your pet, or a neighbor’s.
Play a game.
Plant a garden.
Let go of grudges.
Make time for activities that nourish you spiritually.
Take up a hobby.
Write a love letter.
Take a drive down a long country road.
Focus on the positive.
Give yourself permission to sleep late.
Plan a “dinner and a movie” date with a loved one.
Watch Sesame Street - with or without kids.
Hum a tune.
Take a nap.
Swing on a swing set.
Go for a hike.
Eat dinner by candlelight.
Read poetry.
Doodle.
Take out your camera and go on a photography adventure.
Give a good yell into your pillow.
Bang a drum or shake a rattle.
Start a conversation with someone at the market you don’t know.
Read out loud.
Mail yourself a cheerful letter or card.
Learn Tai Chi – a Chinese art of moving meditation.
Hug a tree.
Notice where there is tension in your body – imagine that body part melting like an ice cube.
Take a sun bath – sit in the sun for five minutes. (Be sure to wear sun protection!)
Silently tell yourself to relax as you breathe deeply.
Buy a CD of the sounds of nature.
Accept and love yourself exactly as you are.
Listen to the songs you loved as a teenager.
Reflect upon a time when you felt truly loved.
Give yourself permission to cry.
Walk barefoot through grass or sand – feel the massage of textures beneath your feet.
Buy yourself a toy.
100. Say “peace is in me and all around me.”

101. Write your own personal 101 tips for reducing stress

Thanks Shirl!
Something we all can use.
Peace
Eileen

This is good Shirl. I REALLY am going to stand in the rain when we finally get some here!!! It's like the outback...hot and dry for weeks! K

Thanks for this, TB!! I hadn't read it until just now. If it's alright with you, I'd like to copy and paste it to an email to send to my friends and family.

I'd like to add one more suggestion to the list, if I may. It's something I've been struggling with for a few days and is closely related to the "Let go of small stuff" suggestion. Pick your battles...not all are worth the effort and losing a few along the way is not the end of the world. If my mom wants to wear green pants and yellow socks, so be it!! At least she and John Deere will be happy. LOL!! This lesson I learned out of love for my twin 3 y/o grandsons, who are learning to dress themselves. But, it applies to so many other things in life. Isn't it amazing what the wee ones can teach us?

((((HUGS))))
ST

I have to add something TB....
Let a puppy have his or her way with you.. I got our new puppy from Rainbowheart yesterday and Zero as my husband so lovingly named her just showered us in puppy snooter kisses.. I could feel the stress and sadness just washing away with each kiss..
aaaahhh puppy breath and unconditional love.. what more could anyone ask for???
Hugs
Leelon

ttt ..... as a reminder to all of us!

Have a nice day!

Hi I am new here and all the way from Singapore.

My mother was diagnosed with AD last year and her condition seems to fluatuate every day, she can be fine 1mins and next will turn voilent the next. I am a single caregiver who has to work and take care of her, I am lucky to have a maid to help, but all the burden of taking care of her is on me. I sent her to day care and bring her back in the evening. Than I am working from home, this is really tiring.

Your tips to de-stress is great. Had a good laugh and yes, pets are a great stress reliever. Their uncondition love really makes things fine and yes on going again. Press on, !!

Dssk, welcome to our community and I am glad it helped!

To The Top for a reminder at how to "cope"!

Right now....I am stressed! I HATE moving with a 90 year old woman and a big white lab.....who has a sore swollen tonsil!

Stress..........who can I attack!?!

Well, never mind! I'll just read my list!

I'm sorry Nana. Wish I was there to help. It sounds like you really have your hands full.

Thanks for this little reminder,
I am ready to take Monday off work, fingerpaint in the bathtub and wear my mismatched jammies to walk my dog!
All of those are really good suggestions that don't take alot of time or money.
joni ca.

You go girl!

ttt

quote:

Originally posted by Leelon:
I have to add something TB....
Let a puppy have his or her way with you.. I got our new puppy from Rainbowheart yesterday and Zero as my husband so lovingly named her just showered us in puppy snooter kisses.. I could feel the stress and sadness just washing away with each kiss..
aaaahhh puppy breath and unconditional love.. what more could anyone ask for???
Hugs
Leelon

That the puppy didn't just get done licking it's bottom before he kissed you?

Seriously, I saw no mention of Mojitos and I would like to add that and a steamy novel poolside for $500, Alex.

Too funny!!!!

TB,

This was a really great list!

The last time I saw my grandson when we were coloring, I made a booboo and said "Uh-Oh, I colored outside the lines". My grandson told me "It's OK Grammie, it still looks pretty". I thought that was so sweet.

Playdoh.....I haven't had some for quite a while. I hope the smell is the same. For some reason, I have always loved that smell.

Sesame Street.....what a great show....I wish I lived there! I love Grover and Elmo so much!

Hugging a tree.....I LOVE trees! This reminded me of something else though. One day years ago, my husband and I were browsing for a wall clock. While in a clock-shop, I spotted the most charming Grandfather clock. It was so whimsical. I instantly fell in love with it and wanted to buy it. We did not NEED one though as we already had a Grandfather clock. It was also very expensive as there had been only a few of them made.

I tried my best to "forget" about that clock but it haunted me for weeks. Finally, we went back to the shop to take another look. As soon as I saw it, I went over and wrapped my arms around it and hugged it for a long while. I just HAD to have that clock!

We ended up buying it and I still to this day absolutely LOVE that clock. I never grow tired of looking at it and I am so glad that I splurged and got it. It feels like my friend.

Anyway, the hugging-the-tree reminded me of finding that clock and it is a fond experience that my husband and I had together which was nice to think about.

How have you been TB? How are things with your daughter? I don't see as many posts from you and would love to hear how things are going.

Thanks for the list....lots of good things there.

Good to hear from you too, Val! Everything here is going very smoothly at the moment. I keep pretty busy with projects and some research I have undertaken, but I try to get here as often as possible. I love all of you guys!

ttt

So very important for all of the caregivers!

Thanks alot.

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Thank you so much for posting the list. I really needed to see it. I am about to go insane. I will try a few, especially the silly goofy ones. I think you saved me tonitht.

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ALWAYS REMEMBER to take care of the caregiver!

(((((great big hugs to you all))))

My best stress reliever are my two most wonderful cats, both are rescues who love me. I come home, they attach themselves to me.

That is so great!

I love to read, gives me an escape from reality & stress. However, everything I read lately is related to helping cope w/ my Mom. So for now, being new to this board this is a great stress relief. Being with those who understand. Thank you!!

Aww..you are so welcome!

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@Twice Blessed, this wa so inlighting and God has sent this to me at a time I needed this. Just to sit back and let stress fall out. My understanding needs help! Why do they (ALZ) loved ones need dark. All help broke out when I opened the curtains (live on the ocean) let the sun shine in. I thought it was good for them for air and sun. But no, it was as if the all the bad things in life I just let loose. Sorry venting again. Lost again RogerD

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zerotears