There are many ways to restore lifestyle balance, and keeping track of and making progress with as many of the following changes is a good way to regain balance after having been exposed to difficult experiences:
Physical Self-CareEat regularly (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Eat healthily
Exercise
Get regular medical care for prevention
Get regular medical care when needed
Take time off when sick
Get massages
Dance, swim, walk, run, play sports, sing, or do some other physical activity
that is fun
Get enough sleep
Wear clothes you like
Take vacations
Take day trips or mini-vacations
Make time away from telephones
Make time for self-reflection
Have your own personal psychotherapy
Write in a journal
Read literature that is unrelated to work
Do something at which you are not expert or in charge
Decrease stress in your life
Notice your inner experiences -- listen to your thoughts, judgments,
beliefs, attitudes, and feelings
Let others know different aspects of you
Engage your intelligence in a new area, e.g., go to an art museum, history
exhibit, sports event, auction, and theater performance
Practice receiving from others
Be curious
Say no to extra responsibilities sometimes
Spend time with others whose company you enjoy
Stay in contact with important people in your life
Give yourself affirmations, praise yourself
Find ways to increase your sense of self-esteem
Reread favorite books, re-view favorite movies
Identify comforting activities, objects, people, relationships, places, and
seek them out
Allow yourself to cry
Find things to make you laugh
Express your outrage in social action, letters, donations, marches, or protests
Play with children
Make time for reflection
Spend time with nature
Find a spiritual connection or community
Be open to inspiration
Cherish your optimism and hope
Be aware of nonmaterial aspects of life
Try at times not to be in charge or the expert
Be open to not knowing
Identify what is meaningful to you and notice its place in your life
Meditate
Pray
Sing
Spend time with children
Have experiences of awe
Contribute to causes in which you believe
Read inspirational literature (talks, music, etc.)
If additional help is needed, please call:
Genesee County Mental Health Services @ 585-344-1421
(Excerpt from: Salving, K. W., & Pearl man, L. A. (ed.). (1996).
Transforming the pain: a workbook on vicarious traumatization. New York:
Norton).