Sometimes we feel like we just cannot cope.  We feel overworked and overwhelmed.  Our world presses in on us and makes us wonder how we will maintain the energy to continue.

In a recent Email Newsletter, I brought up the topic of "self-nurturing" as a means of coping with the world the way it is today....fast-paced, often stressful, constant change, long work hours, high work loads etc. I thought it might be useful if we shared how we all manage to survive....the little things that we do to look after ourselves during stress, or after a hectic day.   Thanks to everyone for sharing these very personal strategies….

Next time you feel like crawling under your desk and assuming the foetal position, read some of these strategies.  It may give you an idea or two...or at the very least you will feel better knowing that everyone else has their 'moments' too!

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“As soon as I get home I take a long hot shower with a really nice shower gel that sends the aroma's all throughout the ensuite and bedroom.  I like to sit down in a quiet place and meditate for 5 - 10mins (which feels like an hours sleep).  I put on some music and turn it up loud enough to drown out my voice so I can sing all over the house.  If it is late enough I'll call a friend in another state of Australia and talk for hours to them about what we have both been doing since we last caught up.”

“My strategies include arranging to work from home for a day when a report or other task really needs to be done - it is still work but at least you don't have traffic hassles, you can stay in your favourite slippers (or whatever) and the phone calls are less.  Devote a weekend to doing something physical that shows immediate results like pruning the shrubs in the garden or digging up the vegetable garden.  It makes up for all those things which don't make an immediate difference.  Play hookey - go to a movie that makes you laugh (My Big Fat Greek Wedding for instance), take yourself out to lunch, have a coffee with a friend - and don't think about work.  Get a massage or pedicure.”

“I pray, I sing, I go out for dinner with my favourite people... my husband and children I remember the sights and sounds of Africa (seen June July 2001) and the sight of the Ground Zero in New York (seen September 2001) .... and all I can do is thank God for all I have, and understand that in reality, I don't appreciate just what stress really is.  I have all the comforts anyone in the world could want.  I find an attitude of gratitude, instead of a hedonistic, me and mine, self-comfort attitude works wonders for my stress levels.”

“I am probably not in the best shape to add to the strategies, but I do like to go for long walks with the dog, watch television in bed with my son, go to the pub, rove around the www…Just a snippet.”

“I have a policy of doing something stupid on a daily basis. I live on the beach front so walking, Tai Chi on the beach is a daily thing. Smiling and being overly happy around miserable people on the train in the morning is also a good laugh.”

“To relieve stress, I ride my bicycle along the foreshore near my home, listen to my CD's real loud in my lounge room, or watch Home and Away to catch up on reality.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but on the list at work for 'extra' jobs to be done around the office, I put my name down for cleaning the fridge.  I find it quite therapeutic, when overloaded with computer and/or finance work, to take time out to clean out the fridge!  Or, even clean and polish the kitchen sink.   I think because it is something physical and unrelated to my 'normal' duties I find it relaxing - especially when I can see the sparkling result.     Neither 'break' takes very long and I can then resume my other work with renewed vigour. Now I don't think that will appeal to everyone...”

“I find that chocolate works as does a cappuccino!  A good belly laugh is also good.  A hug or cuddle with someone you love.  Patting the cat or the dog.  Listening to some of your favourite music.  Now, I just wish I had time to do all this, then I know I'd feel better!!!”

“I go for a surf.  If there is no surf I take the dog for a walk along the beach.  At work I take a deep breath, and go for a walk outside.”

“Learning to deal with the stress of the job has been a major learning for me - and I think I am getting there at last!  Here are just some of my strategies:
* Keep work at work; don't take it home.
* Take breaks
* Have a life outside of your work - preferably involving something physical - but have fun, laugh and switch your focus onto something else.”

”I do yoga. It's great all round: physically, it keeps you flexible and feeling good and teaches you how to relax; mentally, it helps you to detach; emotionally, it helps to release tensions, steady yourself and calm down; spiritually, it helps you to remember what's really important.  Also, focus on 'core business' activities and try to minimise the paperwork. Sometimes nobody ever reads it so why go beyond the basic essentials of what's required.”

“When I need a break I either go shopping, go walking and feed the ducks at Linear Park, play music and sing, find a sunny spot in the garden and read, or ring a friend to chat.  All good displacement therapy.”

“What do I  do?  
1. Drop the work, despite pressures to complete it
2. Go to the cinema for some escapism
3. Go jogging
4. See some friends and have a BBQ
5. Take photographs or video and edit the results”

“To get rid of the pressures of the day and the people that make me go boom I go stick fighting!  I put on my amour and away I go.  Yes have a fight with the others in the group….10 minutes of this and it is all over, no reflection just do it.” 

“My strategy is quite simple. I go down to the Gym and work out. When I am particularly stressed I hit the punching bag extra hard. This seems to work pretty well!”

“Going to a movie, sitting in the garden and drinking pots of tea, reading a frivolous book ...... some of my stress survival tips!”

“Survival tip for Greeks:
One small serve of OUZO followed by a short Zorba type dance with or without bouzouki music.  If this fails a short chat with the Greek Bishop does the trick he is a good drinking and dancing partner.  Doing it together is the answer, so don't stress out on your own, stress out with others. Make a social occasion out of an otherwise stressful state.”

“I'm feeling too 'stressed, overworked, overwhelmed etc etc' to even think about this!  No seriously, in spite of this, I find belly dancing a great de-stresser, or any type of dancing really.” 

“I Indulge myself in the newspaper until really late on Saturday morning...or a bit of Retail therapy (not the supermarket) does help.  But most of all a nice walk along the beach is perfect and I can walk there in 1 minute...so perfect.  Thank you for making me realise the need to do it more often.”