S
tressed out? Have a million things to do
in the next month? Feeling like you don’t
know what to do first with projects piled
on your desktop? Are deadlines starting to
stampede you like a wild herd of buffalos?
In an effort to minimize stress The Peorian
and I are devoting a three-part series to mini-
mizing and conquering stress. Each of the three
parts will focus on a different aspect, including
attitude, leisure hours, and work life. I hope this
series will give you some down-to-earth, helpful
tips for making 2012 and beyond a little less
stressful and more serene.
PART TWO
CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF THE PEORIAN
Here’s a strange paradox: leisure takes some
work. Most of us assume that all we need to do
is make some free time and we will automati-
cally feel happy and stress free. Unfortunately,
things aren’t quite that simple.
To really use leisure time as a stress reducer,
it is essential that we devote a little time to plan-
ning.
Did you know the time Americans spend
for vacation has actually shrunk more than a
third in the last decade? With all the media and
self-help books preaching the importance of
self-care and renewal, it appears we are actually
doing more work instead of less. Cell phones,
IPads, Facebook, Tweets and laptops keep us
constantly connected to our work and personal
commitments. Being connected creates a situa-
tion where others view us as continuously avail-
able even when we are on vacation or enjoying
a weekend. Our technology keeps us hooked in
but limits our time with family, friends and time
for personal self-care.
Real leisure time actually involves doing
something that is unstructured, spontaneous
and relaxing. Too often even our leisure time
is rigidly structured and tightly scheduled.
We seem to have lost our ability to enjoy being
spontaneous. So here are some quick and easy
down to earth tips for lowering your stress and
enjoying your leisure hours.
PEORIAN HEALTH
10
TIPS TO
LOWER
YOUR
STRESS
LEVEL
Dr. Joy Miller
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THEPEORIAN.COM
