| 1. |
Instead of a quick shower, have a long relax in the bath |
| 2. |
Make a regular appointment with yourself and use the time to relax, pamper yourself, catch up on sleep, or whatever you fancy. Treat this like an important appointment that must be rescheduled if you have to cancel. |
| 3. |
Keep to the speed limits when driving and don’t go through amber lights. |
| 4. |
Decide what activities you can give up to free up some time. |
| 5. |
Try shopping for a month and just topping up with fresh produce as and when you need to. |
| 6. |
Take the scenic route on a journey and enjoy the views. |
| 7. |
Don’t eat meals whilst standing, walking, working, or driving. |
| 8. |
Chew your food more than usual – this is also good for digestion |
| 9. |
Try asking for a little more help with tasks. |
| 10. |
Start planning for an early retirement. |
| 11. |
Learn how to pre-record your favourite programmes and you can watch them when ever you like. |
| 12. |
Learn to say NO a little more often. |
| 13. |
Transfer all your bills to Direct Debit. |
| 14. |
Put a couple of drops of Lavender oil around your pillow as it helps you to sleep. |
| 15 |
Take up new hobbies like reading novels or gardening. |
| 16. |
Don’t feel guilty about taking a siesta |
| 17. |
Try preparing double, or more, portions of food and freezing some for other days. |
| 18. |
Arrange with your phone line provider to have the ring back facility. If you call someone and the number is engaged you can then dial 5 and your phone will ring immediately when the other line is free. This saves time and frustration from constantly redialling a number. |
| 19. |
Buy presents and cards when you see them not in a last minute panic. |
| 20. |
Have regular breaks and let your answer machine / voicemail pick up any important messages for you. This is also good when you are busy, or when you are trying to relax for the evening. |
| 21. |
Spend some time just listening to some relaxing music and don’t just use it as background when you are cleaning the house / car. |
| 22. |
Open and deal with your post each day, don’t leave it to build up. |
| 23. |
Find time to take at least 3 half hour walks each week. |
| 24. |
If possible, take the train or bus to work and avoid the stress of rush hour driving. Instead, enjoy a good book or listen to your favourite music on your walkman or iPod. |
| 25. |
Share child care with friends and family so that you can free up some time for yourself. |
| 26. |
Learn how to express your feelings rather than bottling them up. |
| 27. |
Work late if you really must but don’t ever take work home with you. |
| 28. |
Have a clear out and de-clutter your home every few months – try it and you will feel really good. |
| 29. |
Don’t get frustrated waiting for and travelling in crowded lifts, take the stairs instead and improve your fitness. |
| 30. |
Only take responsibility for your own stuff and let others deal with theirs. |
| 31. |
Learn to delegate at home and in work. |
| 32. |
Drive in the slow lane. |
| 33. |
Take any overtime you have earned within the month you have worked it. |
| 34. |
If you are going on a train journey, book in advance over the phone or internet and avoid the rush and stress of getting your ticket on the day. |
| 35. |
Think before you talk or act. |
| 36. |
Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing combined with muscular tensing and relaxing. Massage and meditation can also help. |
| 37. |
If someone asks “can I do anything to help you?” say yes and share a task so that it gets done quicker. |
| 38. |
Allow time between appointments / tasks for a breathing spell, as back-to-back appointments can be a great stressor. |
| 39. |
Save drafts of frequently used email / fax / letters. |
| 40. |
Plan regular getaways. This could be anything from a morning to a weekend. Always have a small note pad and pen ready to write down any "to-do’s." and then you can put the list away until you get back to your normal routine. |
| 41. |
If you can arrange to see a group of friends all at the same time, it will free you up from making several separate arrangements. |
| 42. |
If you have one, take the dog for more walks. |
| 43. |
Invest in a Satellite Navigation for you car and save time planning routes, looking for landmarks, and getting lost! |
| 44. |
Shop on-line, have your order delivered and avoid the busy isles, queues at the till, parking problems, and busy roads. |
| 45. |
Where possible leave early for an appointment to allow for unexpected delays. |
| 46. |
Switch to decaffeinated tea / coffee, or better still stop drinking them. The temporary ‘high’ you get from too much caffeine can result in fatigue later on and it will also affect your sleep. |
| 47. |
Take your lunch earlier or later and avoid the large queues in the sandwich bar. |
| 48. |
Live in the present, don’t dwell in the past, or worry about your future. |
| 49. |
Either fix or replace things that don’t work properly as they can be a constant source of aggravation. |
| 50. |
Get unpleasant tasks over with early in the day then the rest of the day will be free of anxiety. |
| 51. |
Where possible, have a ‘plan B’ in the back of your mind. Contingency plans reduce the impact when things don’t go according to plan. |
| 52. |
Invest in a pair of ear plugs so for when you need some peace and quiet – even at home. |
| 53. |
Do something to improve your appearance and it will make you feel so much better. |
| 54. |
Put variety into your week. When you have your days / nights off work, opt for a complete change of pace. If your work week is normally slow and structured then make sure you have more action and spontaneity in your free time. If your work week is fast-paced and full of people and deadlines, then try some peace and solitude on your days off. |
| 55. |
Hire a good life coach to help you work out the best stress busters for your own unique situation. |
