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15 Tips for Minimizing Stress
While stress (the type that spurs us on to complete projects and motivate us to the finish line) is a natural and often beneficial part of our lives, we can learn to minimize small day-to-day stresses that can create major frustrations in our lives. Recreational therapist, Cathy Allen, CTRS, says that too much stress can be harmful, making you sick and irrational (no, not me!). In my coaching practice, I see that even though exercise can help reduce and manage stress, stress is often an inhibitor to actually doing the exercise. In an interview, Ms. Allen shares 15 tips for minimizing stress (including, of course, exercise!):
- Wake up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning to avoid running late throughout your day.
- Practice preventive maintenance on your car, appliances, and home (things seem to "fall apart" at the worst time).
- Be prepared to wait: a magazine or book can make a wait in a line or at the doctor's office tolerable and almost pleasant.
- Prepare and plan ahead: fill the gas tank before it nears empty, and buy postage stamps before you are running low.
- Count your blessings: for every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably ten blessings.
- Say "No!" to extra projects, social activities, and invitations you know you don't have the time or energy for.
- Surround yourself with non-worriers: when you associate with chronic worrywarts you too will worry more frequently.
- Be body wise: eat a well balanced diet, exercise, and get enough sleep.
- Discussing your problems with a trusted friend or family member can help clear your mind of confusion.
- Do something kind and helpful for somebody else.
- Eliminate destructive self-talk, such as "I'm too old to..." "I'm too tired to..." etc.
- Use your weekend for a change of pace. If your workweek is slow and patterned, add action and spontaneity into your weekends. If your workweek is fast-paced and full of people and deadlines, seek peace and solitude during your days off.
- Everyday allow yourself "free" time for privacy, quiet, leisure, and relaxation.
- Remember to take your lunch break. Get away from your desk or workspace even if it's for 15 or 20 minutes.
- Be optimistic - hold a forgiving view of events and people. Accept that we live in an imperfect world and that most people are doing the best they can.
- Bonnie
Exercise Pill?
"If exercise could be packed into a pill, it would be the single most widely prescribed, and beneficial, medicine in the nation." --- Dr. Robert Butler, Founding Director of the National Institute of Aging.The American Heart Association cites physical inactivity as the 5th major risk factor for coronary disease
According to a special report by the National Institute on Aging, delaying nursing home stays nationwide by only one month would result in a savings of 4 billion dollars annually.
Falls are the leading cause of accidental death among adults over 75 years of age.
According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a reduction of 40% in falls can be achieved by building strength and balance. Go exercise!
- Bonnie
Food Tip: Quinoa Pilaf Recipe
This is a great salad/side dish recipe sent into us from Leola Stout. Everyone requests second and third helpings of it. Makes a great addition to your summer/fall dinners and picnics, and would even make a great Alkalarian Breakfast if you sliced some avocado and tomatoes on top! Leola also uses this dish as a great side compliment to any fish recipe. Thank you Leola Stout!
3 cups quinoa cooked (basic recipe)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
4 green onions chopped
1/4 cup celery chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 yellow pepper
1/2 sweet red pepper
2 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 teas. sea salt (or Real Salt)
1/4 teas. seasoning of choice (I use Bell Aroma by Spice Hunter)
1/4 cup dry roasted almonds (could use soaked raw almonds)
Saute chopped vegetables in olive oil until clear, yet crisp: stir in spice of choice. Add sauteed vegetables to cooked, hot quinoa, mixing well. Add salt and seasoning to taste. Dry-roast almonds in heavy skillet until lightly golden. Add almonds and mix. Serve and enjoy!
- Bonnie
3 cups quinoa cooked (basic recipe)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
4 green onions chopped
1/4 cup celery chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 yellow pepper
1/2 sweet red pepper
2 cloves garlic crushed
1/2 teas. sea salt (or Real Salt)
1/4 teas. seasoning of choice (I use Bell Aroma by Spice Hunter)
1/4 cup dry roasted almonds (could use soaked raw almonds)
Saute chopped vegetables in olive oil until clear, yet crisp: stir in spice of choice. Add sauteed vegetables to cooked, hot quinoa, mixing well. Add salt and seasoning to taste. Dry-roast almonds in heavy skillet until lightly golden. Add almonds and mix. Serve and enjoy!
- Bonnie
