Start Improving your Health and
We all deserve to be happy but how is the
Step 1 : Identify the Stressors in your life and list the main issues that cause you stress.
You can write your plan out any way you like but it's best to have it in an easy, clear format.
For Exmple.......
Stressor : My Weight
Main Issues :
1. I binge eat 2. I do no exercise
Goals :
1. Get my eating under control 2. Find an exercise activity I can enjoy doing regulary.
Strategies for Goal 1 :
1. Start a diary. Be honest with myself and write down what I eat throughout each day. Try to recognize and write down what things trigger my binge eating ie how am I feeling through out the day, what was I doing and how was I feeling before I bought the block of chocolates, what things are playing on my mind
2. Do this for one week and sit down and review how I went. Write down some notes on common themes that emerge.
3. If I cant identify any common themes or triggers to my desire to eat, continue diary for another week. NB Don’t rule out boredom as a trigger !
Strategies for Goal 2 :
1. Make a list of activities I have always wanted to try
2. Try at least one new exercise activity per week to do each each activity at least 2 times.
3. After trying 4 activities consider which activity/activities I would like to do on a weekly basis.
4. If I cant find a new activity I would like to do regularly within X weeks, list 3 new activities to try and go back to strategy 2.
Like many of us you may have multiple stressors in your life.
Start off by attacking just one or two. Try not to tackle too much at once or you will become overwhelmed. Slow achievable steps is the key to goal achievement. It’s a great feeling when you can cross some strategies and issues off your personal plan - you just need to make sure your plan is achievable !!! There is no use writing strategies that you know you won’t follow through with !
Frequently Asked Questions......
How Do I Identify The Main Things That Cause Me Stress !!??
You may find it difficult to clearly identify the main issues that contribute to your stress. It could be a range of things revolving around a relationship issue, work, childrens behaviour, money, the course that you are doing or just simply not having enough time in the day or ability to effectively managing your time. Make time to think about the things that cause you stress and write a list if you feel you need to ! Think about it over a few days if you need to but, try to pick one area to start working on and make a start on filling in your own Personal Development Plan. You can always come back and write more on it later.
How Do I Think of Strategies That Can Help Me Deal With My Stressor/s !!??
If you can’t come up with achievable strategies you may need to think about beaking down the problem into smaller more managable areas (EG if our young child is your stressor, issues being he wont get off the computer / engage with the family, the strategies may not only revolve around offering interesting alternative activities but could also include things like setting up a system where he can 'earn' time on the computer.
Try to think 'outside the square' talk to friend and family and get ideas from them.
If your still having trouble coming up with strategies, your strategy may be that you need to investigate getting some help from someone else. I have made a ‘List of Services’ that you can use as a starting point (which if not already posted will be posted soon.)
MOST IMPORTANT TIP ....... Keep your Personal Plan in a place where you can see it. Use it as a reminder that you are improving your life everyday. Be proud of yourself and the fact that you are on your way to a more fulfilled life !
Also, don’t forget to bookmark this page for later reference or send it on to someone you know who might find it useful. I will be continuing to update and add to the resources available as part of the SUPPORTLINX SERIES and aim to continually provide practical and effective Personal Development and Health Management tools and information so keep a look out for regualr updates to the Supportlinx Series
Other articles in this series also include 'Family Life' http://uadvance.blogspot.com and 'Advance U' http://advanceu.blogspot.com
