Agreed. But let's not overlook the other times of day and night: pretty much any time is a good time for a bike ride.
Of course, if you're riding at night you'll want to make sure to have proper lighting, both on the front and back of the bike. Also, a helmet light can really improve both your ability to see and your ability to be seen by cars, other cyclists and pedestrians. Take it from me: getting into a crash will only add to your stress levels (and that's if you get off easy).
It's also probably a good idea to give a loved one a detailed itinerary so that that can know where to search should you not return in a timely fashion. If you don't have a loved one to whom you could give such an itinerary, maybe finding such a person might be a good long-term stress reducer. It'll probably actually add to your stress levels in the short-term, though: dating is stressful.
Finding the right route is so important. There are places in the city that I live in that a ride through would be more stressful than just staying at work or home! Avoid those.
I have a pretty good grasp on stress I have the abaility to worry about things I can help and not the things that I can't help. My faith and my family with this aspect of my life. I do feel that this course has opened my eyes to the value of making a list and prioritize the tasks I need to get done.
Unfortunately, many of the stressors that I cannot eliminate are sometimes the overwhelming type that just continue to add to our department, and as understaffed as we are, we do not have anyone to delegate any of this extra work to.
so, all we can really do is continue with good communication within our group, tackle the urgent tasks, and chip away at the continued additional tasks.
I do have the ability to take a few minutes and change the landscape, or take a walk for a few minutes here and there, but not all my colleagues practice this method.
I find that when I am doing things outside of work that I really enjoy doing like hunting and shopping that helps to releive my stress.
I like to use breathing and streching techniques randomly throughout each day. I also have found to do breathing techniques before I go to bed each night to relax. This has been extremely effective to fall asleep. I will continue to use this in the future.
Elizabeth, I love your thinking. Sometimes our greatest sources of stress can be the greatest things to help us unwind. Your mobile device is a perfect example. If we find a way to turn off alerts and check email a little less frequently, we can leverage some of the more engaging device capabilities like games, music, photos and videos.
Dr. Melissa Read
By being organized this helps to prevent stress due to
stressful task that are a necessary part of the job of
an educator.
I recently realized that my life revolved around work. With two jobs, I had no time for myself. Now I take more time out for friends and family, and I set time aside every day to do something I enjoy, like watching my favorite show or going for a walk. I also cut down on how much time I grade papers at home. In addition, I am very focused on my health right now, and have seen positive changes already.
Traci, So true! I love hearing that your exercise routine is noticeable to others. Yes, why not give breathing a try to take things to the next level? This is an easy coping mechanism that you have access to anywhere.
Dr. Melissa Read
Carolyn, Sounds like a good plan. Sometimes starting an exercise routine is harder than we anticipate. It's tempting to want to jump right in. I recommend taking it slow and easing into your routine. Most people find that this method is more manageable and reduces the chance of disruptive sports injuries.
Dr. Melissa Read
Kym, It sounds like you have found a wonderful coping mechanism to rely on. That's great to hear. Yes, meditation works great and it's something that you can do most anywhere. I love coping mechanisms that give us that much flexibility.
Dr. Melissa Read
My main goal is to start an exercise plan and stick to it.
I have started incorporating regular excercise into my routine. This has made a tremendous difference with how I feel and people have noticed. I would like to focus on trying the breathing and mediatation route as well. I feel we have been told these healthy coping mechanisms before but do to life and us not valuing our well-being they get lost. There is only one person who will take care of you anf that is "YOU".
I use meditation daily to cope with stress. I try to work out 3 or 5 times a week, but the meditation is what really does the trick.
They say that 20 minutes of meditation is the equivalent of 6 hours of sleep. I find it keeps me calm and centered no matter the stressor.
I realize that a lot of people consider their cell phone to be a source of stress, but I personally like to use it for puzzles or other sometimes "mindless" activities that I can do to help me destress. I love doing some type of physical activity for stress relief, but if it has been a long day or that's just something that isn't going to happen on a particular night, the puzzles or brain teasers can be relaxing to some.
Biking is also a favorite of mine. Lots of exercise, low stress on the joints and you work out a lot of stress that accumlates throughout the day/week.
Another would be practicing even basic yoga. It may be difficult but you feel so much better afterwards.
I honestly find myself more stressed with life now more than ever. As I think about it, I definitely have more responsibilities in my personal and career life than ever before as well. After this section though I am realizing how the fact that I also have been getting less and less exercise and less sleep than I used to is contributing negatively to my stress level. These are areas in which improving my time management skills can open up windows for and my overall quality of life with improve!!!! One step towards stress reduction that I realize I have already made is that I moved closer to my job and started bicycling to work. It is only about a 10 minute bike ride from my new house. I have noticed that I feel ready to go when I get to work now instead of getting that second cup of coffee. Eating breakfast has now become important again because of the ride as well. It is crazy how a few small steps in the right direction can put you back on the right path :)
I realized that talking about your stressors to people close to you can help you cope with stress. It is important to share with others what you are feeling because they probably have something good to say about it.
Geneva-Marie, Thanks for sharing. I love hearing that you have such variety and such a range of outlets to choose from. It's nice to be able to fall back on a couple of different outlets, depending on your mood.
Dr. Melissa Read
A few of my current outlets for coping with stressors that can not be eliminated are writing, painting, and excercising. I plan to continue praticing these methods of coping.
