Every person on earth has challenges in life but the good news is that there ARE ways to carry all these pieces and find balance. I love this saying, “Sometimes we cannot control the wind, but we can direct the sail.” However, when we are stressed, what we need at the moment may be just to keep our boat steady!

Here are some ways I have found help me deal with day-to-day stress. Feel free to pick one or two of your favorites to help your boat get back to steady!

• No one in the world is perfect. So accept your strengths and weaknesses as they are and appreciate yourself.
• FORGIVE yourself and LEARN from your mistakes.
• STOP comparing yourself with other people. You are unique.
• Always believe there is something GOOD in everyone as well as in YOU.
• Celebrate your achievements, small or big!  The sense of success becomes real when you do what you enjoy (watch a nice movie, dance, or hang out with a friend) 
• Do not spend time thinking about what other people think of you.  Value yourself.
• When possible, surround yourself with POSITIVE people and LIMIT TIME with negative people.
• Find the POSITIVE side in any life event. Even if something horrible happens, we can always learn and grow through it. 
• Find positive ways to EXPRESS your emotion (writing, singing, or watching a movie).
• Balance your day by keeping a TO DO list. Set time limits for work tasks. Include flexibility in your day along with time for loved ones.
• Schedule a routine BREAK to refuel (exercise, play with your kids or pets, go for a walk, practice deep breathing, or take a day nap). 
• BE MINDFUL, just focus on the moment and press pause on the stresses of life.
• SMILE! There is great power in smiling! It actually increases energy and eliminates stress.
• FORGIVE others. I know it is not an easy task. However, the power of forgiveness can bring joy, harmony, and peace to you and your family.

Haun, V. C., Nübold, A., & Bauer, A. G. (2018). Being mindful at work and at home: Buffering effects in the stressor–detachment model. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 91(2), 385-410.

Kraft, T. L., & Pressman, S. D. (2012). Grin and bear it: The influence of manipulated facial expression on the stress response. Psychological science, 23(11), 1372-1378.

Rasmussen, K. R., Stackhouse, M., Boon, S. D., Comstock, K., & Ross, R. (2019). Meta-analytic connections between forgiveness and health: the moderating effects of forgiveness-related distinctions. Psychology & health, 34(5), 515-534.

An occupational therapist can help people learn skills that will help lead to their own independence. This includes budgeting, shopping, and meal preparation. However, people can also learn how to cope with stress and to advocate for their mental health needs. These skills can help someone living with a mental illness to more successfully interact with others.

Experts now know that the brain can adapt and change. Cognitive skills can help people develop problem solving strategies, learn frustration tolerance, and even enhance the person’s self-esteem. All of these skills are necessary to be successful for reaching one’s life goals.

There are ways to help individuals living with mental illnesses to improve their health behaviors. Several interventions can be used to teach symptom self-management, adherence to medications and reducing risky behaviors. A positive outcome of improved health behaviors is reduced health care costs.

Individuals living with mental illness can work with an occupational therapist to learn how to adapt to college. This can include learning how to adapt their living and learning environments to allow for participation and success. Self-determination, self-management, adapting and providing accommodations, and teaching daily routines are some ways a person can work toward success in college.

Movement typically improves mood. Slow stretches and movement with targeted breathing are techniques that can help decrease symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. No matter how you move, move. It can help. Occupational therapists can help a person to be more mindful of their body.

Learn More About Physical Activity

An occupational therapist can help an individual living with mental illness to first identify areas considered problematic. Techniques taught include reasoning, goal setting and implementation of a planned solution.