Ways to Reduce Stress
Some make themselves sick by overwork. For these, rest, freedom from care, and a spare diet, are essential to restoration of health. To those who are brain weary and nervous because of continual labor and close confinement, a visit to the country, where they can live a simple, carefree life, coming in close contact with the things of nature, will be most helpful. Roaming through the fields and the woods, picking the flowers, listening to the songs of the birds, will do far more that any other agency toward their recovery.
MH 236
- Pray
- Go to bed on time.
- Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed with God.
- Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
- Delegate tasks to capable others.
- Simplify and unclutter your life.
- Get organized so everything has its place.
- Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
- Allow extra time to do things and to get to places
- Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
- Take one day at a time.
- Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, you can pray.
- Live within your budget; keep your credit card bill paid up each month.
- Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
- K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut), if appropriate to the situation. This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
- Take time to enjoy the joys in life, children, friends, flowers, clouds.
- Carry a Bible with you to read when you have a moment.
- Get enough rest.
- Eat right. Plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and a few nuts. Eat at regular times without snacking between meals.
- Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
- Write down thoughts and inspirations.
- Every day, find time to be alone.
- Having problems? Talk to God immediately. Try to nip small problems in the bud.
- Make friends with Godly people.
- Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
- Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is Jesus.
- Cultivate joy.
- Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
- Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
- Talk less; listen more.
- Slow down.
- Remember we serve God, who “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” Eph 3:20
- Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31
