Parents, De-Stress Thyself!
C.y. YOg LAM
We parents usually get
stressed out by their daily duties and chores, as well as having to attend to their professional career (if any). We
are the first and the last resort of our spouse and our kids. Balancing work and parenting can cause stress and can be detrimental
to our health. So how can we handle stress? The Child Development Institute suggested 52 ways to handle any stress (And I
mean ANY STRESS!):
1. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning. The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful.
2.
Prepare for the morning the evening before. Set the breakfast table, make lunches, put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.
3.
Don’t rely on your memory. Write down appointment times. ("The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory."-Old
Chinese Proverb)
4. Doing nothing which, after being done, leads you to tell a lie.
5. Make duplicates of all keys.
Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden (if you have one)and carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from
your key ring.
6. Practice preventive maintenance. your car, appliances, home and relationships will be less likely to
break down/fall apart "at the worst possible moment."
7. Be prepared to wait. A paperback can make a wait in a post office
line almost pleasant.
8. Procrastination is stressful. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to
do today, do it now.
9. Plan ahead. Don’t let the gas tank get below one-quarter full. Keep a well-stocked emergency
shelf of home staples. Don’t wait until you’re down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more, etc.
10. Don’t put up with something that doesn't work
right. If your alarm clock, wallet, shoe laces, windshield wipers, whatever are a constant aggravation, get them fixed or
get new ones.
11. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport one hour before domestic
departures.Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to arrive at an airport one hour before domestic departures.
12.
Eliminate (or restrict) the amount of caffeine in your diet.
13. Always set up contingency plans, "just in case." ("If
for some reason either of us is delayed, here’s what we’ll do.." Or, "If we get split up in the shopping center,
here’s where we’ll meet.")
14. Relax your standards. The world will not end if the
grass doesn’t get mowed this weekend.
15. Pollyanna-Power! For every one thing that goes wrong,
there are probably 10 or 50 or 100 blessings. Count’em!
16. Ask questions. Taking a few moments to repeat back
directions, what someone expects of you, etc., can save hours. (The old "the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get," idea).
17. Say "No!." Saying "no" to extra projects, social
activities, and invitations you know you don’t have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect, and a belief
that everyone, everyday, needs quiet time to relax and be alone.
18. Unplug your phone.
Want to take a long bath, meditate, sleep, or read without interruption? Drum up the courage to temporarily disconnect.
(The possibility of there being a terrible emergency in the next hour or so is almost nil). Or use an answering machine.(
continue in the next page)
19. Turn needs into preferences. Our basic physical needs
translate into food, water, and keeping warm. Everything else is a preference. Don’t get attached to preferences.
20.
Simplify, simplify, simplify...
21. Make friends with nonworriers. Nothing can get you into 10 or 50 or 100 blessings.
Count’em!
attached to preferences.
20. Simplify, simplify, simplify...
21. Make friends with nonworriers. Nothing
can get you into the habit or worrying faster than associating with chronic worrywarts.
(Til next issue…) c”)
