Set priorities. Decide what’s important and let the rest go. Resist the temptation to say everything is a top priority. If you have five priorities try ranking them and focus on what is really important to you. When I was first working as a therapist in Mississippi, my clients were overwhelmed with poverty, mental illness and abuse. I was working 60 to 65 hours a week and ultimately got an ulcer. I had to make some changes. Te birth of my first child rearranged my priorities. Tough I had even more to do, identifying and establishing my priorities helped me decide what was most important and I let the rest go.

Set aside perfectionism. Sometimes “good enough” is just fine. As perfectionists, we’re hard on ourselves and feel we should hold ourselves to a higher standard. We need to make the choice to acknowledge that we are not perfect and give ourselves the same kindness and forgiveness we offer others. Don’t stress yourself trying to be perfect.

Say no. Most of us are over committed. We want to be helpful for others. We want to get things accomplished. It’s hard to say no to your employer and, if you have your own business, you know that no work means no pay. You probably have lots of non-work related commitments—all good things.

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Realistically consider whether you can take on more. Try practicing this response before automatically committing to more: “Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.” Saying yes and regretting it is not a good feeling. If you are going to say yes, make sure it’s about something you really want to do. What we are thinking, feeling, and doing should all line up; otherwise we experience incongruence which leads to stress.

Get organized. Disorder and clutter can be stressful. You will function better if you’re living and working in orderly surroundings. Set up a system to organize your projects and files and stick with it. Try to get off mailing lists and unsubscribe from junk emails.

Find a hobby. Take up something new or resurrect one you used to enjoy. Focusing on a hobby triggers the pleasure area of the brain. It allows you to shut out everything else; and gaining mastery, even bit by bit, triggers the sense of pleasure.

Set aside time for yourself every day. Tis could be watching the sunset from your deck, reading, or simply stepping outdoors for a few minutes. Make it a time of no distractions, no noise, no technology; just solitude. Or use this time to connect with others.

TPI Turf News March/April 2017