Dr. Rippe's Blog

Although recently a few economic indicators seem to point to better times ahead, many people of my acquaintance are still living with uncertainty. Companies are still hard-pressed; many people still feel anxious about job security. Many who lost work earlier are having a difficult time finding new employment. Others I know are facing diagnoses or health challenges for which there is no certain outcome. Even if no one in your immediate family or circle of friends is facing these kinds of challenges, the climate of uncertainty surrounds us all. Without our knowing it, such a climate can increase our anxiety and stress levels.

What can we do to live more positively through such periods?  Adapting the following tips to your circumstances may help.

• Focus on living in the present, not fearing the future (or regretting the past). During my career as a physician I have had to share "bad news" with many patients. No matter their diagnosis or prognosis for the future, the individuals who did the best were those who focused on what they could do right now in the present to live the life they wanted as they worked for better health. These patients didn't waste time blaming themselves for past actions that may have contributed to or worrying about what the future may hold.
• Visualize several strategies for coping with anticipated or possible outcomes. Attempting to living in the present doesn't mean that you plunge your head into the sand. Make some time when you aren't pressured with other duties to look realistically at what challenges (or a specific challenge) you and your family may be facing. Then plan some possible strategies for dealing with those possible outcomes.  For instance, if you job future seems shaky, now is probably the time to cut back on discretionary expenses and to start saving larger chunks of your income toward that possible layoff. It's also a good time to dust off and refresh your resume.
• Emphasize the people and activities that you care most about. Putting your thoughts and energy into enhancing the relationships you care most about can be very grounding, for you and those you love. The same goes for paying attention to other intagibles that help ground us--spiritual life, volunteering for organizations and causes you support, and the like.
• Take care of yourself.  Don't neglect regular physical activty or balanced nutrition. Use the relaxation techniques discussed in previous blogs. Take time for yourself.

You probably know that old joke that nothing in life is certain but death and taxes. Coping with uncertainty is actually a normal part of living. The goal is not to give it too much emphasis.

How do you cope with the various stresses of daily life? The techniques you use to cope with stress can contribute to balance and a sense of well-being or they can undermine it. For example, let's say you are facing some important deadlines at work and the pressure is mounting. For relief, do you tend to indulge in comfort food or to overeat or do you take a brief timeout to take a walk or exercise? It's usually a lot more tempting and easier to go for the comfort food rather than the walk. But physical activity actually helps us deal with anxiety and relax where overeating just contributes to the problem (particularly if you feel guilty about it). 

Or perhaps you cope with mounting pressure by taking some down time to take care of yourself. That can be a terrific idea as long as you don't confuse personal time with procrastination. Putting tasks and deadlines off simply creates more stress.

Taking a little time to think analytically about how you cope with pressure and stress--which of your techniques are positive and which negative--can help you stay in control.

Probably as a holdover from our school days, most people think of summer as a time to take it a little easier--the lazy, hazy days of summer. In actuality, most of us are working just as hard as we do the rest of the year, probably harder if you throw in care for kids out of school. The economy isn't making thinking about down time any easier either. So here are three tried-and-true ways to relax a little even during the busiest summer.

• Get a little water time. I really enjoy swimming. My daily swim is time to relax, get away from work for 30 minutes, and get some exercise (that doesn't really feel like exercise). Even if you don't like to swim, just playing in the water with your kids can be enjoyable. Many communities have municipal pools open in summer. If there's no pool or not time to get to it, then a long soak in the tub (regular or spa) can also be refreshing. Playing in the sprinkler or hose with your kids may bring back memories.
• Take a nap. You needn't save naps for the weekend. I know one busy executive who manages to squeeze in a 10-minute "power snooze" every afternoon.  When he's on the road he may nap in a desk chair or stretched out on a quiet bit of carpet, but he gets it in.  If the carpet's not for you, then try a 10-minute timeout at your desk. Cut off the phone, close your eyes, sit comfortably, focus on your breathing (slowly in and out) and gently clear your mind of thoughts. Just focus on breathing and relaxing your muscles. It's a great break.
• Hang out the "gone fishin'" sign for a half day.  In the south where my wife grew up, the expression "gone fishin" might describe someone who actually had taken off for some time on the river or who had just taken some private, personal time. So why not take off a half day just for yourself, to do something you really want to do--whatever that is.

I hope these ideas have triggered some more thoughts of ways you can relax a little even if your summer promises to be hectic.