Ways To Manage Stress Creatively

    Stress is a huge problem for us all. Here's what I've learned and applied to manage stress using my creativity.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Putting my creativity and my work first, I often neglected to eat, exercise, even stand up from my desk. I now realize that how I feel physically (and mentally) is more important than the work I create. Taking care of myself includes all natural remedies(疗法). I'm learning how to say no to social pressures, in favor of my own well being.

    Don't worry about what other people think of you.

    This is easier said than done, but I promise it does come with age{#blank#}2{#/blank#}A lot of people do offer unsolicited(自发的) advice. It is human nature to want to help other people. But if that advice is coming from a place of control or judgment, RUN in the opposite direction.

    Don't compare.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Most people are not as happy as they describe themselves to be. The best advice I ever heard was this：Don't compare your inside to other people's outside. Be open to new experiences, be kind to yourself and accepting of the journey which is life. Being present means not thinking into the future, or harping(唠叨) on the past. The coolest thing about being present is that CREATIVITY LIVES IN THE MOMENT.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Your intentions matter.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}What was your intention? I remind myself to enjoy the process of my creative fun stuff, it's for me. If others like it, great, but it's the enjoyment of my creative intention, in the moment, that I treasure.

A. Stop judging

B. Each moment is UNIQUE

C. We have to work in order to live

D. Take care of yourself--Mind AND Body

E. Stress is often caused by comparison to others

F. It's important to remember why you started doing something

G. No one cares about what you're doing unless what you're doing affects them

    As most of us know, talking and listening don't go smoothly every time. Will parents take you seriously, believe what you say, listen to and respect your opinions? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But some of what happens depends on you, too. Since communication is a two-way street, the way you talk can influence how well a parent listens and understands you. So here are some guidelines to consider when talking to parents:

    Be clear and direct. Be as clear as you can about what you think, feel, and want.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} They can listen better or be more helpful if they understand what you mean and what's really going on.

    Be honest. If you're always honest, a parent will be likely to believe what you say. If you sometimes hide the truth or add too much drama, parents will have a harder time believing what you tell them. If you lie, they'll find it hard to trust you.

    Try to understand their point of view. If you have a disagreement, can you see your parents' side?{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Telling parents you understand their views and feelings helps them be willing to see yours, too.

    Try not to argue or complain. Using a tone that's friendly and respectful makes it more likely parents will listen and take what you say seriously.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you think your emotions might get the better of you, do something to blow off steam before talking: Go for a run. Cry.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Do whatever it takes to sound calm when you need to.

A. Hit your pillow.

B. If you can, say so.

C. A lot depends on your parents.

D. Think twice before you make a decision.

E. Your parents won't always see things your way.

F. Give details that can help parents understand your situation.

G. Of course, this is hard for any of us when we're feeling heated about something.

    Pay more, and you get unexpected results.

    •Give what you can.

    You clean out your closets, right? Perfect. You don't need a half a million dollar check written out to your charity of choice to help someone. Maybe you have a few shirts you don't wear anymore or a few children's books you can bear to part with. The thing about giving a little is that when everyone gives a little, suddenly it turns into a lot. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    •{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    In a world where smart phones rule and it's not just possible, but normal, to have entire conversations without ever looking someone in the eye, it can be exciting and wonderful to lock eyes with someone grinning. Happiness is contagious, and it only takes a couple facial muscles to spread it.

    •Use please and thank you.

    Not to sound like your grandmother (go ahead and sit still!), but the smallest ways to show your thanks are these little words. They take zero effort to say, but the impact is huge. Aren't you thankful someone held the door for you when your hands were full? {#blank#}3{#/blank#}!

    •{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    This is the best kind of multitasking! Whenever you get a little, give a little. There's a couple ways to finish: You can do it yourself (donating an older shirt when you pay for a new shirt, etc), or support companies that are passionate, good-hearted (really fun) do-gooders. Doesn't it get much better than that, does it?

    •Get in touch. Then listen.

    Maybe a grandparent is eating at the bit to hear about your adventures, or maybe an old friend had a really bad day, maybe your mom wishes you，d ring her up more often. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. You're member that your iPhone can make calls, right? Get in touch with those people that are dying to hear from you (because someone indeed is). Then, ask: How are you doing? What's new? These questions have such few syllables, but their depth is endless.

A. Tell them

B. Get on the line

C. Give when you get

D. Be a part of that lot

E. Support someone else

F. Smile with eye contact

G. Start building your wings

    Moving abroad can be a challenging experience. You leave your family, friends and everything you know behind. You enter a new culture where the customs and sometimes the languages are different. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. It's a time to discover new things, make new friends and begin a new adventure.

    So what are the best ways to involve yourself in the new culture while living abroad?

    Live with a native speaker

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. First, you have a friend! Living alone can be a lonely experience, especially if you're far from home. I've also had the opportunity to meet my housemate's friends and socialize (交往) with them. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. In addition, you have someone to tell you about the cultural customs and interesting places in the area.

    Socialize with the local people

    The thought of making friends and mixing with the local people may seem scary at first but it's worth it. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, attending an evening class or participating in a language exchange with people that are interested in learning your native language.

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    The food in France is amazing and discovering new food is a fun experience. I've tried things that I've never tried before. My knowledge of different bread and cheese types has grown greatly.

    You might think that simple things like saying hello and goodbye are the same in every culture. Think again!

    Shaking hands to say hello or goodbye was a Western custom (风俗) at first. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Traditionally, the Chinese custom for greeting was to hold one's hands together and nod their head a little.

    Japanese people greet each other by bowing (鞠躬). When greeting an older or more important person, it is usual to bow lower and for longer. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But only men did it.

    People in European countries such as Italy often greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks (脸颊). Even men greet each other like this. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Eskimos, a group of people living in the very cold northern areas of North America, greet each other by lightly rubbing (摩擦) their noses together. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Often, Eskimos only leave their eyes and noses uncovered. And the rest of their bodies are covered with warm clothing and their hands with gloves.

    When you're not sure what the customs are in a new country, there's one greeting that is the same all over the world: a smile. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Reversal—change your perspective and solve your problem

It's often your definition of a problem that limits you in finding a suitable solution. Creative solutions require a change of perspective. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

The reversal technique is a creative thinking technique that is based on the thought that to change your perspective, you sometimes need to change the order of the words in your problem definition.

How you change the order of the words doesn't matter much, as long as the key words are reversed. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Your challenge is "How do we make sure that fewer people take cars to their work?". Swapping the key words, you could rephrase this challenge as "How do we make sure that fewer cars take people to their work?" In this case, the first statement will make you think of alternative means of transportation, like trains or bikes, while the second statement will probably make you think of solutions like carpooling—fewer cars for the same number of people.

Not every problem statement is suitable for a reversal. Sometimes using this technique requires you to first rephrase the question altogether. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}For instance, the question "how might we sell more washing machines?" is not easily reversed—there is no key word to swap with "washing machines". Yet, when you rephrase the question to "How might we sell more washing machines to young parents?" you can easily change it to "How might we sell more young parents to washing machines? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You could interpret this last sentence as "the washing machine pays the young parents to try it out". Then, you could start communicating to potential buyers how much they will save each year when they choose your energy efficient washing machine.

As this example shows, some reversals will require a very flexible way of thinking. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} However, thinking about the tiny amount of time it will "cost" you to try out a reversal, you have very little to lose and, potentially, lots to gain.

A. The second problem statement is much more logical.

B. Often it helps to add one more key word to the sentence.

C. Rephrasing your challenge is to change the problem statement.

D. A great way to do this is by "reversing" your problem statement.

E. For instance, imagine you are responsible for limiting the traffic jam in your area.

F. Admittedly, it is a very unusual challenge, but it might just stimulate a creative thought.

G. Not everyone will be able to move from an unreasonable statement to a useful solution.