90 Ideas for Re-energizing Yourself

Suggested Activities to Help you Manage Stress

The following is a list of examples of some creative changes others have found helpful in re-
charging and re-energizing themselves. You may find value in some of these ideas as you create
your own plan to relieve your distress and perhaps even turn the tables on distress and make it
work for you rather than against you. Use this list as a starting place, choosing the ones that “catch
your eye” (not everything will be for everyone) and that you feel will work for you. And then add
your own thoughts and ideas to the list.

Remember, a lot of managing stress comes from understanding that you always have choices. We
can choose to take the actions to manage our stress.

You can strengthen your body

• Learn to relax • Dress the way that feels right to you
• Get proper rest • Lower your cholesterol
• Get regular exercise • Practice good posture
• Eat a nutritionally balanced diet • Get regular medical checkups
• Lose weight

You can develop healthy attitudes

• Think positively • Reward yourself
• Practice living in the present • Don’t be afraid of failure
• Learn to accept what you cannot • Develop the attitude of gratitude
change • Get friendly with leisure

You can improve your personal relationships

• Seek out good friends (build your
support network)
• Share yourself with significant others
• Contact new people
• Do something for others
• Take charge of getting involved
• Give the other person a break
• Don’t criticize and blame others
• Give in occasionally
• Make clear choices
• Face painful questions directly

You can lift your spirits

• Work toward deepening your life • Learn to let go
• Engage in organized • Learn to play again
religious/spiritual activity • Smile
• Keep things in proper perspective • Allot time for daily meditation
• Encourage your gentleness • Laugh, Laugh, Laugh!!!!!!
• Don’t do wrong

You can control your job

• Focus on one thing at a time • Redefine your job
• Don’t try to be perfect • When all else fails, QUIT!
• Define the purpose of the work • Build a support network
• Take some time off • Find time to smile, laugh and help
• Take a break or do something that others do the same
gives you a shift from the work at hand

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90 Ideas for Re-energizing Yourself
Suggested Activities to Help you Manage Stress
You can improve your environment at work and at home
• Make your workspace comfortable
(add some lavender or flowers,
pictures of family; keep it clear of
clutter!)
• Find security
• Spend time in a new environment
You can develop self-understanding
• Listen to the voice of your body
• Make a list of your present goals
• Write a diary or journal
• Analyze your successes
• Get feedback from others on how they
see you
You can improve your mind
• Read about stress and human growth
• Learn about stress
• Be sensitive to all dimensions of life
• Take a course that is of interest
• Go to the public library
• Think about great ideas
You can control your emotions
• Admit to yourself how you feel
• Practice self-expression
• Face your fears
• Experiment with acting your way to a
new feeling
You can live a healthy lifestyle
• Be yourself
• Arrange to have variety in your life
• Take one thing at a time
• Don’t let things drift
• Plan for maximum comfort
• Learn to vary your pace
• Set up desirable futures/goals
©2016 ICMI | ICMI.com
• Change residences or workspaces
• Redecorate your home
• Cut down excessive noise
• Control the phone, TV set at home; the
email, pager, beeper, cellphone etc.
at work
• Be honest with yourself
• Make use of the resources you have
• Keep track of your “stress quotient”
and how it decreases, or increases
• Find out what is controllable in your
life and what isn’t
• Subscribe to a magazine you normally
wouldn’t
• Take an online course
• Teach someone something
• Clear your mind
• Work off your anger
• Write your feelings down
• Use your support system
• Take time to be alone
• Plan relaxing vacations
• Practice relaxed driving
• Develop a hobby
• Find ways that work for you to build
your “reserves”!
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