By Marianne Merritt Talbot
Between the state of the economy (and all its attendant headlines of doom and gloom), the election, and the wonderful craziness of my schedule, my stress level has been fluctuating wildly. How about you?
Here is a top 10 list of ways I handle the stress – try one, two, all of them. Even if they seem silly, gives them a shot – one doesn’t need to understand why they work, simply be grateful they do!
First, take 5 deep breaths, then...
- Smile! Smiling actually releases feel-good hormones that will make you feel better.
- Go for a walk and find some greenery to admire or a park to sit in. Even stop by a florist just to smell the flowers.
- Be generous - buy a meal for a homeless person, drop off flowers to a nursing home you pass every day, leave an anonymous gift for a coworker you know is going through a tough time. Being generous with someone else can snap you out of your malaise.
- Quick: think of 3 things in your life and day that you are really grateful for!
- Call a friend or relative to say: “I love you.” It doesn’t have to be a long conversation – just make a quick call to spread some love and cheer!
- Put down the coffee and instead have a cup of herbal tea. Relax into the scent and warmth.
- If you feel overwhelmed by the task list you are juggling in your head, write it down and feel the deep satisfaction of crossing out items that you do as they get completed. Being organized (even just a little bit) can help you breathe.
- Start planning your next vacation! Even if you have no budget or time for it right now, at least think about where you might want to go and check out a couple of websites and imagine yourself there.
- Close a door wherever you are, put on a favorite tune, and take a dance break. Grab your kids to have them join you and see how this dispels stress from all of you!
- Be silly: watch a funny video on FunnyorDie.com or other website (my favorites are those from “The Daily Show” and the “Colbert Report”). It might be trite but yes, laughter is if not the best medicine, than it’s pretty darn good in any case.
Marianne Merritt Talbot is a former litigator and law professor who now runs a lifestyle and career coaching company called Modern Venus Ltd. She absolutely adores living in Park Slope and can be found on any given morning running around Prospect Park or nibbling on something at Sweet Melissa’s! Marianne’s coaching style is comprehensive, as she focuses on all areas of a woman’s life including career, well-being, creativity, balance, relationships, stress management, and even personal and professional style. She is a featured expert on various websites, including LadyAdvisor.com (where she also has a beauty blog), RealBeautyIs.com, and of course Hip Slope Mama! Marianne sees clients both in Park Slope and at her office in the West Village and is happy to give a free consultations for any reader of Hip Slope Mama. For more information about Marianne, including her background, services, and many testimonials from happy clients, please visit www.ModernVenus.net. She is also launching an organic skincare line in late 2008 called Modern Venus Organics – stay tuned for more information!
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