Stressed Out! What to do?

We all carry stress from the day to day challenges of everyday life. Your car won’t start; your washer broke; you spilled your coffee on those important papers….it happens everyday. But, if you wear scrubs, you know that these stress-builders are minor compared to what you face at work everyday. Helping care for the sick or hurting is indeed gratifying but it takes its toll on you, emotionally and physically, from the stress you just can’t shake when you leave work. If you don’t relieve the pressure, you are soon sick, cranky, or burned out, yourself.

My solution to relieve stress is a shopping trip for something small but luxurious (and usually made from chocolate), followed by a hot bubble bath, a hot cup of Jasmine Tea, and a thrilling paperback. That little bit of pampering makes me feel like I can face another challenge with a bit of an attitude adjustment. It’s not much, but it is enough to get me through.

How do you relieve the stress you feel in your job, and your life? Do you take a long walk with the dog? Do you read, putting your head in a different world? Do you socialize with friends? Rock climb? Sail? Ski? Meditate? Garden? Volunteer? We all need a little break from time to time and we can’t wait to hear from you with your stress relieving secrets!