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Just in case you aren’t stressed out enough, here are 13 ways to make sure you can turn your stress level to the MAX!
- Don’t have any kind of plan for meals or grocery shopping. Figure out what’s for dinner at 7 pm each night.
- Don’t designate a specific place for your mail and bills. This will ensure that you have piles of papers all around your house, and you will have no idea where your bills are.
- Let coworkers pile their work on you. Be the go-to person in the office.
- Say yes to every request made by your church, your kid’s school and your civic obligations.
- Don’t have a morning routine for getting out of the house on time. Sleep until the last minute and scream like a banshee to get everyone out the door!
- Do all the housework yourself without asking for help. I mean, if you are the woman in this relationship, isn’t it *your* job to take care of the house? Even if you work a job as well? And if you are home all day with the kids, you should have plenty of time to get it done!
- Cater to your kids every whim and don’t require them to do their share of chores. Teach them that you are their to serve and take care of them, you are the parent, right?
- Be too busy to get together with friends. That will just have to wait until you have more free time.
- Don’t exercise. Don’t have a gym membership, that costs too much and you don’t have time anyway. And you don’t even really have time to do a workout at home either, I mean, with the kids and the housework.
- Don’t set aside time to connect with your partner. At this point in your life, you just need to be on autopilot in your relationship. You know that you love each other, and you both will just have to be patient til things in life calm down a bit.
- Don’t slow down long enough to listen to your body and soul. Keep going full speed ahead so you don’t hear your soul telling you it is starving for relaxation and a few minutes of quiet. Push your body to the limits and ignore any symptoms you have.
- Allow your parents and/or inlaws to dictate much of your life. I mean, they are your parents and you do need to honor and respect them. And you feel guilty for being such an awful teenager. All you want is their acceptance, so you will do anything to please them, no matter how it affects your family.
- Spend your weekends in the mall, toys R us or Walmart instead of the park or hanging out with your friends or your kids. There is always some new thing coming out and if you don’t shop each weekend, you might miss it!
Obviously, this post is tongue-in-cheek. None of us wants to MAX our stress level out. We are always wanting to reduce it somehow, but not really sure how to do so or what things would make the biggest impact.
Insanity- doing the same things but expecting different results
If you want things to change, you gotta do something different.
Take a look at this list above. Are you doing any of these things, even to a degree?
STOP!
Make changes.
Do something different.
It is NOT selfish to expect others to do their fair share. They may not like it at first, because they are used to YOU doing everything, but they will learn.
What changes are you going to make to reduce your stress level today? Or do you have another to add to our list here? Please share in the comments!
As it turns out, I have nothing to be stressed about but I am! WTF?
Lynn MacDonald (All Fooked Up) recently posted..In which i describe Passover
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bernicewood Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Lynn,
Ah, but I know you have older teenagers and young adults, that is a stress in and of itself multiplied tenfold! For real though, many times our stress cancome from our own mindset within. Think about what is *really* stressing you and why it does? Can you change it? Can you change hwo you *feel* about it? I know that’s a lot of wishy-washy feelings, but give it a shot, lol!
Thanks for coming by and commenting, and for the retweet!
Bernice
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Hi there! I’m visiting from SITS! I think as women, it’s very easy to take on the weight of the world. I agree…there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help from others. Makes life so much easier!
April recently posted..The Goodbye QuiltA MUST Read!
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bernicewood Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Yes, we do take on the weight of the world. There just happens to also be that thing inside of many of us that keeps us from asking for help!
Thannks for coming by!
Bernice
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Love it! How many times do we unconsciously do exactly those things?
Jan recently posted..Living Well Wednesday- 4-20-11
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bernicewood Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
You used the key word- unconciously. We have to start being more aware and deliberate!
Thanks, ma’am!
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Oh, catering to kids is a guaranteed recipe for disaster!!
liz recently posted..Blame it on the 90&8242s- Man!
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bernicewood Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
A recipe for creating a houseful of brats!
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Love this post! Thanks for sharing!
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bernicewood Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Glad you like it! Thanks for coming by!
Bernice
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Love it.
Ter recently posted..I Love It I Applaud It I Follow It
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bernicewood Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Glad you did!
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Yep. You nailed it with this list Bernice. I’m guilty of a few of these myself. Thanks for the reminder that it’s all self-induced!
Jenny @ exconsumer recently posted..20 Free or Really Cheap Ways to Entertain Yourself
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bernicewood Reply:
April 20th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
I thought the reverse psychology was a good angle to show that fact.
Thanks, Jenny!
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I do want to say that obviously, there are times of our lives, seasons, when we may have to do some of these things. If our parents are ill, obviously we want to do what we can for them. When you have a new baby, it IS all about them!
But most of life *isn’t* this way, so keep that in mind!
Bernice
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LOVE this list. Laughed….and nodded….all the way through! Hard to pick out a favorite, but I think #1 and #2 would be #1 and #2 on my list. Having a meal plan and a place for all the paper that comes into the house is a HUGE stress reducer.
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Great article! I resemble some of those remarks and am struggling with re-prioritizing.
It’s always a challenge and your article is a good reminder.
Beth recently posted..ROR Sitemap for http-wwwsoapandgardencom-
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Great reminders to get organized so we can just chill out. :0) I have been slowly trying to get organized and then keeping the areas that are done, to stay that way. Baby steps
I always leave enough time to get to places on time. Those who are chronically late, I think plan their time poorly. It drives me nuts.
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Mel @ Trailing After God recently posted..Forgiving One Another Again and Again
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shoot. I’m doing a bunch of these!
Connie @ Young and Relentless recently posted..If Today Was Your Last Day
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You got me between the eyes with this list! Thanks for sharing your awesome with Jennifer so I could find you.
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Bernice- Love this post!
Would you be willing to allow us to re-print it in our Women’s section? Many women with ADHD really struggle in the areas you mention. You share a number ideas on how change is possible and validate the need to ask for help. (Indeed to feel worthy – to be enough – despite their challenges) Joan
ADD Resources org
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These are great tips!! I featured your post tonight…great work!
Thanks for joining my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. Hope you had a lovely Easter!
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#’s 1, 2, 5, 9, and 11 — guilty as charged!
LOL
I need to make some changes! Thanks for writing it all out like that. Somehow when you “see” it written down, you are able to “see” it happening in your daily life.
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Hi – Found you through the Follow Friday 40 & Over.
gigglelaughcry.blogspot.com
Giggle, Laugh, Cry recently posted..Y is for Yo-Yos
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Stopping by from Java’s blog and really enjoyed your post. I am the mom of five and I actually wrote a book about stress called “The Knot at the End of Your Rope-Ten Ways to hold on when you are stressed out” I researched stress on a daily basis for many years!
I’m your newest follower. Visit me at NanaHood and follow me back please!
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Great list. And all true. If you’re feeling stressed, you could just sit down with this list one by one and see which one is the guilty culprit. #1 is just huge for me! Having a meal plan and groceries stocked in the pantry just makes our whole week smoother.
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Another poignant post, Bernice. I’m guilty of most of those. But I do make time for my husband. He’s my rock!
I am printing this list to keep a constant reminder of what to stop doing.
Thanks!
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bernicewood Reply:
May 7th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Sally,
It is so easy to let these things sneak up on us, not realizing what they do to our quality of life. Good for you for keeping time for your hubby!
Bernice
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This list put a smile on my face – found you via Time Travel Tuesday.
You can always find lists of how to lessen stress but not usually how to increase stress – this was a nice change
Fi recently posted..OMG – Youll never believe it
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at first I thought I misread this, hysterical RT @womanonajourney 13 ways to stay stressed out ~ http://t.co/he0dtSf
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Okay, these are truly ways to stay stressed! RT @womanonajourney: 13 ways to stay stressed out. Are you guilty? http://ow.ly/5XATf
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This is really good and quick to read. I encourage you to at least glance at the 13 ways to stay stressed out. http://fb.me/Sz8SeTet
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13 ways to stay stressed out http://t.co/ZPFuYNM via @womanonajourney
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Oh, I’m all over #4. I can’t say no to anyone!
Leigh Ann recently posted..Everyone needs a ray of “snuhsine”
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I found you through Time Capsule Tuesday. Love tongue in cheek posts. I do need to work on #9 getting exercise. now that i am laid off I have less of an excuse for not exercising.
Robbie recently posted..Weekend highlights
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Stopping from Time Travel Tuesday!
Just reading these was a stress reliever!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Pause Life for a Moment- Mama Wants This
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