Tami, Yes, venting can go a long way... as long as the people you are venting to do not get too stressed out by listening!
Dr. Melissa Read
Claudia, That sounds like a great outlet for you. It's nice to know that you've incorporated this outlet into your weekly routine. Walking is also such a sustainable coping mechanism because it's easy on the body and you can do it almost anywhere. Keep it up!!!
Dr. Melissa Read
Stretching and running are good coping methods for me and I will be more diligent about keeping up with them in the future!
I try to walk at 30 minutes at least three times a week, four if I can manage it. I'm fortunate to live where the weather is good most of the time, and our little town is beautiful, so I enjoy my walks,and find I do not deal as well with stress if I do not do the walking for one reason or another.
I think sharing stressor with others in the same situation and see how they cope can aid (even if only to vent). :)
Its great to see how possible it is now to bike in major US cities, with the installation of bike lanes, special traffic lights, and more bike racks. I hope to take advantage of these things by making them part of a routine that will help eliminate stress.
I am happy to have an active life doing what I love, but sometimes getting enough rest can be a challenge. Generally afer I have taught in the mornings,I then go to my salon and work on clients. I sometimes work as late as 9pm or so.
After working 12 or so hrs in the day I go home to finish housework and get ready for the next day. By the time that all gets done its late.
Being an instructor and salon owner keeps me busy and I know I need to get better at not "burning the midnight oil".
One way in which I cope with stressors is to set time aside to work on my hobby. This gives me a chance to get away from my daily routine and to mentally relax. After awhile, I can then go back to my normal routine refreshed to continue on with my work and my personal life.
Marcia, It sounds like you have a variety of great outlets for dealing with stress. I'd love to hear more about MBSR. It sounds like this technique has really worked for you.
Dr. Melissa Read
Gary, Thanks for sharing! It sounds like you have a few good outlets to fall back on. I should note that I agree with your thoughts on running. While it can be an exhilarating outlet, it's also quite taxing on the body. Walking is better in the long term.
Dr. Melissa Read
Timothy, Yes when we walk alone, we can be thoughtful, reflect on our days or even use our imaginations with daydreaming. All are productive.
Dr. Melissa Read
Melissa, Yes, getting enough sleep can really make or break us. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on what stands in the way of getting good rest for you.
Dr. Melissa Read
Lizette, So happy to hear you've found such a wonderful outlet. Dancing is a great way to destress and also connect with other people.
Dr. Melissa Read
Jackie, So true. Positive influences can go a long way. We often key off of these people too, feeling more positive ourselves because of our interactions.
Dr. Melissa Read
Donna, Sounds like a good plan. You have a few good outlets already and that's great to hear. Tweaking a little more by changing the way you get to work will take you even farther.
Dr. Melissa Read
I find it very helpful to use "sharing" coping mechanism when I have a stressor that I can not eliminate. I share with my husband things that has stressed me.
Getting to bed sooner is something I struggle with and is something I am working on. Going for walks, eating better, and enjoying the simply things like listening to music or reading a good book.
It is a good idea to surround yourself with positive people.
I think getting plenty of sleep is a great help. I also find walking is a great for stress, it allows you to get into a daydreaming mode the I find very relaxing.
I really liked the idea of breathing. It doesn't take a lot of time and its easy to do anywhere, anytime. If I try to commit to something like exercise every day, I get even more stressed because its something else to do in my day. No matter how important I know it is, it stresses me out just thinking about taking more time out of my day to de-stress! Hehe.
