Nov 18, 2013 - something pleasing to the eye, such as a polished apple or a patterned pillow. ... Instead of multitaskin
Ask America’s Ultimate Experts
“Help! I’m overstressed!” More than half of us say we’re chronically stressed. The key to curing “overload syndrome”? Putting you back on your priority list!
De-stress in four simple steps! Give up one thing!
“Most women have a hard time taking something off their to-do list,” says stress management pro Rosalie Moscoe. “To that I say, it’s not about ignoring your responsibilities—it’s about yourself remembering your responsibility to yourself. How to start? “Ask yourself What’s one little task I can give up right now?”” she says. Maybe you’ve volunteered to Uni-taltsitka!sking, plan a school bake sale, and it’s Instead of mu te on one really adding to your stress. “See if concentra t a time, someone can take over for you. Just project a aroline. taking one thing off your plate will suggests C gives you g make you feel more in control.” “Uni-taskin tion
Do, delegate and delete!
comple a sense of s frazzled p e e that k bay.” feelings at
Once you’ve removed one small task from your to-do list, you’ll have the momentum you need to create a more detailed stress-melting plan. “Make three columns,” suggests organization maven Rivka Caroline. “In the first section, write your to-dos. In the second, note what you can delegate—say, your kids can fold the laundry. And in the third, put down what you can delete entirely. Then create a ‘back burner list,’ ” she says. “Write down any great ideas you have (such as starting a book club or business or a new hobby you want to try) that you don’t have time for right now. Revisit your back burner list in a few months when things slow down. Writing down your ideas is like ‘bookmarking’ your dreams—just keeping track of them gives you a sense of accomplishment!”
Make a “wellness wheel”!
A whole, fulfilling life is like a wheel, notes Moscoe, with each spoke representing a different interest or passion. “Draw a circle, and make it into a wheel by creating spokes,” she suggests. “On each spoke, write a different facet of your life, say, hobbies, family, work, social life. Then fill in each wedge with things that fall under that category. You’ll instantly see if your wheel is unbalanced and where you need to add or subtract.”
Look three months ahead !
When you’re frazzled, it’s often because you think you need to be knocking down goals one after another like pins in a bowling alley. “Instead of putting pressure on yourself, just look three to six months ahead and decide on one or two goals,” says Caroline. “For example, my goal was that I wanted to be nicer to my kids. To be there for them, I needed to be there for me—kids sense when you’re happy. So I decided on a few smaller steps like ‘work out more’ or ‘have regular lunch dates with my friends’ that I would take over the next few months. Giving yourself a time frame for goals makes you less anxious.”
Our expert panel Stress relief and nutrition expert
Organizing and timemanagement maven
RHN, RNCP (HealthIn Harmony.com), is the author of Frazzled, Hurried Woman.
is the author of From Frazzled to Focused. Visit her at SoBeOrganized.com.
Rosalie Moscoe,
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Rivka Caroline
Tame tension! Try “aesthetic” meditation!
An easy way to create calm almost anywhere? Simply gaze at something pleasing to the eye, such as a polished apple or a patterned pillow. Taking in its beauty and proportions sends a subconscious signal to your brain that your life is in balance, too. “Keep a pretty vase on your desk,” suggests Moscoe. “Breathe deeply and focus on it for a minute or two. Or head outside and gaze at an autumn leaf. Follow its lovely lines with your eyes. You don’t need to block off a lot of time to meditate—it just takes a few minutes!”
Do something new!
“Learning something new forces you to concentrate on the moment, shifting you out of ‘overload’ mode,” says expert Debbie Mandel. “And if it takes you a few tries to perfect, say, the basics of knitting, all the better. Experimenting creates new connections in your brain that help make you more resilient to stress.” —Kristina Mastrocola Stress expert Debbie Mandel—author of Addicted to Stress: A Woman’s 7-Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life— is the stress-management expert for LiveStrong.com.
Photos: Rodrigo Fernandez; courtesy of subject (2); Flickr RF/Getty Images; Franz-W. Franzelin/Getty Images; Blend Images/Getty Images; Jacqueline Veissid/Getty Images.
10/23/13 11:49 AM
