Distract yourself from stress

Home and garden

·    Mow the lawn or do some gardening

·    Clean the car

·     De-clutter a room or part of a room

·     Purge your wardrobe (give to charity)

·     Cook or bake

Leisure

·         Do a crossword or other puzzle

·         Surf the internet or watch TV

·      Watch the clouds whilst lying outside

·       Read a novel or new newspaper or magazine

·     Visit the park or beach

Getting out

·    Go for a walk or jog

·     Go for a ride on your bicycle

·     Go to the library

·     Look at the local paper to see what is on – go somewhere new.

Being creative

·     Take up a new hobby

·        Learn another language

·        Start an evening class

·       Learn to play a musical instrument

·     Create a weblog or site

Self-Soothing

·     Have a bath or shower

·     Massage your hands or feet

·     Meditate, relax, yoga, tai chi, reiki

·     Paint your nails

·     Write or read a letter to yourself

Express yourself physically

·      Dance energetically to loud music

·      Run, walk, cycle, swim, go to the gym

·     Vacuum enthusiastically

·    Paint

·    Bang a drum

Positive Self-Talk

·       I can get through this, I’ve managed before and I can now, it will pass

·       I don’t need to do this, it’ll only make it worse afterwards

·       I can cope, I’ve done it before and I can do it again

Making contact with others

·       Telephone someone you haven’t spoken
to for a while

·       Write a letter or email someone you
have not written to for a while

·      Talk to a friend or family member

·       Join an online support group or discussion forum

Imagery

·       Create, in your mind’s eye, your own special or            ‘safe place’

·       Colour breathing: choose a calming colour such as blue or green, and visualise yourself breathing in that colour, and letting go any tension with each out-breath (perhaps using another colour such as red or black)