| Copyright (c) 2006 Colleen Kettenhofen | | | | response plays in determining their outcomes. |
| "Never complain about your troubles; they are | | | | 6) Laughter is a serious business! Laugh to reduce |
| responsible for more than half of your income." Robert | | | | stress. It's a well-known fact that laughter helps reduce |
| R. Updegraff | | | | stress and build the immune system. Laughter IS the |
| Everyone's busy. Today many of us feel added | | | | best medicine. It gets those endorphins or "feel-good" |
| pressure with fax machines, cell phones, kids and | | | | hormones into the brain and elevates your mood. |
| co-workers. The average worker fields 52 phone calls, | | | | 7) Don't overreact when dealing with difficult people - |
| 36 emails and 23 voice mails a day. And, the holidays | | | | especially antagonists. Antagonists, otherwise known |
| and the stress that sometimes comes with it are fast | | | | as "pot stirrers," often have a desire for dissention. |
| approaching. Here are 10 quick and easy tips for | | | | They're looking to purposely rattle your cage, ruffle |
| managing stress. Please feel free to share them with | | | | your feathers, and get you to say something you'll |
| your friends and colleagues. | | | | regret. As Zig Ziglar once said, "No one can get your |
| 1) Focus on your strengths not on your weaknesses. | | | | goat if they don't know where it's tied up." |
| Perfectionists take note: the average American is 32 | | | | 8) Reward yourself for a job well done. Indulge in a |
| years old, married, laughs 15 times a day, and has 27 | | | | massage, manicure or pedicure. Recently I had the |
| trillion fat cells. Nobody's perfect. Beat stress by going | | | | glorious pleasure of staying at the Phoenician hotel in |
| easy on yourself. Focus on your strengths and work | | | | Scottsdale, Arizona. Splurging on an hour-plus |
| on your weaknesses. Don't obsess over your | | | | massage worked wonders! Not to mention laying out |
| weaknesses because perfectionism often leads to | | | | by the pool enjoying the beautiful desert scenery of |
| procrastination. | | | | Camelback Mountain, and later, Sedona. |
| 2) Get up in the morning 30 minutes earlier.Start your | | | | 9) Check your adult at the door. Act like a kid again! |
| day with solitude and more clarity by rising a half hour | | | | Play, run, engage in a favorite sport or hobby like golf, |
| earlier than those in your household. Spend quiet time | | | | tennis, or hanging out with your children at the park. |
| journaling, praying or meditating. Just begin by writing | | | | Make sure to have a date night with your spouse or |
| your thoughts, dreams, goals and fears. Start thinking | | | | significant other. Take a day off and play at the beach |
| about how to organize your day. | | | | doing something you haven't done in years like playing |
| 3) Break the worry habit. 95% of what you worry | | | | Frisbee or building sand castles. |
| about never happens. Ask yourself, "Even if the worst | | | | 10) Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. List 10 things |
| happened, what could I learn from this experience?" | | | | you're grateful to have in your life. Revisit and |
| Have a plan B just in case. | | | | appreciate the simplest of pleasures. Sip your favorite |
| 4) Spend time outdoors and out in nature. Especially in | | | | cup of gourmet coffee. Sit outside in the springtime in |
| fall and winter when the days get shorter, it's important | | | | the garden of a friend's house. Enjoy sunset on the |
| to spend time outdoors every day in the natural | | | | coast. Appreciate the feeling of being more energized |
| daylight. Even if it's gray and overcast, research | | | | after a workout. Be grateful for your health. |
| shows that time spent in daylight, especially in the | | | | Decide today to make a commitment to do one |
| morning, helps reduce Seasonal Affect Disorder or | | | | activity that will reduce stress and maximize success. |
| "SAD." Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, I can | | | | Do it now. What you do in the present determines |
| actually notice a positive shift in my mood and that of | | | | your future. Enjoy! |
| others when late spring arrives and it's light until 8:45 | | | | Colleen Kettenhofen is a speaker, workplace expert |
| p.m. | | | | and co-author of The Masters of Success, as |
| 5) Remember the formula E + R = 0. Event + (your) | | | | featured on the Today Show, along with Ken |
| Reaction = Outcome. You can't always controls the | | | | Blanchard and Jack Canfield.For more free articles and |
| events or outside circumstances around you, but you | | | | e-newsletter, visit Most popular topics: leadership, |
| CAN control how you react. This isn't a new concept, | | | | management skills, public speaking, dealing with difficult |
| but sometimes we need to be reminded of it. Most of | | | | people. Colleen is available for keynotes, breakout |
| us spend more time worrying about the things outside | | | | sessions and seminars by calling (971)212-2412. |
| of our control. I conducted a speaking engagement | | | | You are free to reprint or repost this article provided |
| recently in Seattle on "Dealing with Difficult People." I | | | | Colleen's name, website and phone are provided with |
| reminded everyone of the importance that their | | | | the article. |