Have you had a stressful day, week, or month? Make sure you are intentional about incorporating “stressbusters” into your daily routine. These will help you manage stressful times. Of course, dark chocolate is one of my favorites, and if you’ve subscribed to my You Tube channel (Desi Payne), you will find I’m in a series right now sharing thirteen different types of good dark chocolate and their health benefits. But if you’re not a chocolate fan, then here you go:
200 STRESSBUSTERS
Ask for help
Ask yourself, “Will this matter in a year?”
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine
Avoid conflict
Avoid eating lunch at a desk
Avoid interruptions
Bake chocolate chip cookies
Be prepared
Beat the rush
Believe in yourself
Breathe deeply
Build a relationship with people who energize you
Burn a candle
Button your lips
Buy a bird feeder
Change the way you think
Chew a piece of gum
CHILL OUT
Choose an affirmation phrase
Clean out a drawer or closet
Color
Count your blessings
Concentrate on one thing at a time
Consciously tense and then relax every muscle in your body at bedtime
Count your blessings
Cry on a friend’s shoulder
Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate
Dance
Do a creative activity or project
Do a crossword or jigsaw puzzle
Do nothing
Do not obsess over things you can’t control
Do not over-commit
Do one thing at a time
Do something nice for someone
Do yoga or Pilates stretches
Don’t procrastinate
Don’t rely on memory, write everything down
Don’t speed
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Don’t text and drive
Download joke of the day
Drink stress-reducing teas: Passion Flower, Hawthorn, Siberian Ginseng, Chamomile
Drive mindfully
Doodle
Eat 70% dark chocolate
Eat a protein-filled breakfast
Eat chocolate chip cookie dough (occasionally)
Eat foods high in magnesium
Eat foods high in Omega-3 Fats
Enjoy aromatherapy
Exercise
Fly a kite
Forget perfectionism
Forgive someone
Gain a new perspective
Get a manicure with a friend
Get a pedicure with a friend
Get comfortable
Get duplicate car, house, and work keys (You’ll be glad you did!)
Get a massage
Get organized
Get reflexology
Get rid of annoying noises
Get some “me time”
Get a babysitter
Get happy on purpose
Give or get a hug
Get up 15 minutes earlier
Get a smile stick at www.thepowerofsmiling
Go camping
Go fishing
Go for a drive
Go for a walk
Go horseback riding
Go shopping (don’t overspend)
Go swimming
Go to an auction
Go to church
Go to the park
Go for a green smoothie which will give you an energy boost
Go for ginger or wheatgrass shots to build immunity which combats stress
Have a good cry
Have a heart-to-heart talk with someone
Help someone in need
Hide in a bathroom stall and just shut your eyes
Hike
Indulge in a favorite treat periodically
Invite Ben & Jerry over occasionally
Knit or crochet
Laugh at yourself
Laugh with friends
Laugh out loud—very loud
Learn from mistakes
Learn to delegate
Leave work at the door
Let go of control
Let go of unforgiveness
Let go of the past
Listen to a motivational speaker
Listen to a sermon
Listen to music
Listen to ocean waves or rain on your MP3 when you go to bed
Listen to podcasts
Live in the present
Lock yourself in a bathroom
Look at old photos or family movies
Look for a different job
Major on the major and minor on the minor things of life
Make a budget & stick to it
Make a lifestyle change
Make a sign that says FOCUS MODE: Please come back in 30 minutes
Make a TO DO list
Make someone a home-cooked meal
Make someone smile or laugh
Manage your time
Massage your temples
Meditate on good things
Meet up with good friends
Move on if there is nothing you can do
Organize your drawer of recharging cords & label them
Organize your home
Pause & Reflect
Plan a vacation
Plan your meals
Plant a garden
Play a game with friends or family
Play a relaxation CD
Play cards with friends or family
Praise God
Pray
Prioritize tasks
Put 1st things 1st
Put on uplifting music
Put something back you really don’t need to buy
Quit judging others
Reach out to close friends
Reach out to positive people
each out to family
Read a book or magazine
Realize you can’t please everyone
Recall a past success
Reduce someone else’s stress
Reduce spending
Reject negativity
Remember that each day is a gift from God
Remove distractions
Ride a bike
Roll your shoulders in a circular motion
Save money through www.smartypig.com
Say NO to extra projects
Stay committed to your plan
Schedule tasks and do them
See a counselor
See a doctor
See a financial advisor
Shut mind chatter off
Shut off the computer or phone
Simplify the holidays
Sing
Sleep more
Smell a rose
Smell lavender or eucalyptus oil
Smile
Spend a day shopping, preparing, cooking, packaging food for future use
Spend less
Spend time with your pets
Stand or sit & stretch your arms out from side to side
Start Tai Chi
Stop doing stupid stuff
Spend intimate time with your spouse
Start a blog
Start a college fund—you’ll be glad you did 18 years later
Start a garden
Start a new hobby
Start saving money for a trip
Stay hydrated with H20
Stretch
Take 3 deep breaths
Take a break from your computer screen
Take a brisk 10-minute walk
Take a Dave Ramsey $ class
Take a hot bath with Epsom salts & light a candle
Take a multi-vitamin & fish oils
Take a nap
Take care of something hanging over your head
Take DHEA to pump up your adrenal glands
Take your shoes off
Take short breaks to recharge the brain
Talk to someone about your concerns
Take a martial arts class (or marital arts)
Tell someone “I appreciate you”
Tell someone “I love you”
Think opportunities
Turn the news off
Volunteer your time
Walk on a beach
Watch a comedian on YouTube
Watch a funny TV show or movie
Watch a classic or your favorite movie
Watch an old TV show from your childhood on YouTube
Wear an eye mask at night
Write in a journal
ZZZZZZZZZZ’s – Get More!!!!
Desi
Your Stress Less Coach
The Attitude Adjuster
The Progress Lady