101 Ways to Deal with Stress and our dinner tonight

My therapist emailed me a great list today.  It is called "101 Ways to Deal with Stress".  I am going to make a concious effort to try at least one means of reducing stress each day as a way to curb my anxiety.  Hope this list helps you too!

Get up 18 minutes early • Prepare for the morning the night before • Avoid tight fitting clothes • Avoid relying on chemical aids • Set appointments ahead • Don’t rely on your memory... write it down • Practice preventative maintenance • Make duplicate keys • Say no more often • Set priorities in your life • Avoid negative people • Use time wisely • Simplify meal times • Always make copies of important papers • Anticipate your needs • Repair anything that doesn’t work properly • Ask for help with the jobs you dislike • Break large tasks into bite size portions • Look at challenges differently • Unclutter your life • Smile • Be prepared for rain • Tickle a baby • Pet a friendly dog/cat • Don’t know all the answers • Look for the silver lining • Say something nice to someone • Teach a kid to fly a kite • Walk in the rain • Schedule play time into every day • Take a bubble bath • Be aware of the decisions you make • Believe in yourself • Stop saying negative things to yourself • Visualize yourself winning • Develop your sense of humor • Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better day • Have goals for yourself • Dance a jig • Say hello to a stranger • Ask a friend for a hug • Look up at the stars • Practice breathing slowly • Learn to whistle a tune • Read a poem • Listen to a symphony • Watch a ballet • Read a story curled up in bed • Do a brand new thing • Stop a bad habit • Buy yourself a flower • Take stock of your achievements • Find support from others • Ask someone to be your “vent-partner” • Do it today • Work at being cheerful and optimistic • Put safety first • Do everything in moderation • Pay attention to your appearance • Strive for excellence NOT perfection • Stretch your limits a little each day • Look at a work of art • Hum a jingle • Maintain your weight • Plant a tree • Feed the birds • Practice grace under pressure • Stand up and stretch • Always have a “Plan B” • Learn a new doodle • Memorize a joke • Be responsible for your feelings • Learn to meet your own needs • Become a better listener • Know your limitations and let others know them too • Tell someone to have a good day in Pig Latin • Throw a paper airplane • Exercise every day • Learn the words to a new song • Get to work early • Clean out one closet • Play patty cake with a toddler • Go to a picnic • Take a different route to work • Leave work early (with permission) • Put air freshener in your car • Watch a movie and eat popcorn • Write a note to a far away friend • Go to a ball game and scream • Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight • Recognize the importance of unconditional love • Remember that stress is an attitude • Keep a journal • Practice a monster smile • Remember you always have options • Have a support network of people, place and things • Quit trying to “fix” other people • Get enough sleep • Talk less and listen more • Freely praise other people • P.S. Relax, take each day at a time... you have the rest of your life to live.

I have highlighted 15 items in pink.  I am going to work very hard to follow through with these.  I think having certain items to focus on will make the journey that much easier...

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Tonight, we had Broiled Salmon with Rosemary and Quinoa and Black Beans.  The hubs normally doesn't like salmon because it is too "fishy".  He actually seemed to enjoy our dinner tonight - whereas, I didn't eat all my salmon. 

I was a little frustrated when I left work today.  I felt like I really needed to run, but the weather was crap-tacular - it was sideways raining, blowing a gale, and just crappy.  Sarah and I had agreed to just go to our respective gyms.  As much as I was looking forward to working out, I was annoyed that I couldn't run outside.  In an effort to make the gym visit less torturous seeming, I challenged myself - 60 minutes on the Arc Trainer (strength profile, level 6), followed by 20 minutes on the bike (random hill profile, level 8).  I was certain that I was never gonna survive the Arc Trainer after the first 15 minutes.  I "opened"  my new book (Women Who Run) on my iPad and trudged on.  In celebration of accomplishing my gym goal, I enjoyed a nice Bad Penny beer with my dinner.  I don't think Big Boss had in mind to pair this beer with salmon, but it worked for me!



Isn't she (the Bad Penny) lovely?