Need a way to keep track of your life? The Jott Assistant turns your cell phone into the world’s smallest personal assistant. Just call a phone number, and Jott turns your notes or messages into accurate, confidential texts you can save for review or send along to those who need to know. No need to text on the road anymore — not that any of us ever do that, of course; $4 to $13 per month, Jott.com.
Pain Reliever
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and short on time for the spa, try a quick self-massage. It’s great for blood circulation and endorphin release. Before you start, use a favorite lotion and massage your palms and wrists, gently tugging on each of your fingers. Have a particularly tense spot in your back, shoulders, or neck? Try rolling the tense area with a tennis or golf ball.
Relationship Rx
Nearly everyone experiences difficulties in their committed relationship from time to time, but some people seem more prepared to anticipate these hard times and respond to them more skillfully than others. Marital researchers John Gottman and Judith Wallerstein have identified certain areas where relationships fall apart. Some examples include: 1.) They’ve lost touch with each other emotionally. 2.) Though they may live together, they feel as if they are living parallel lives, like roommates. 3.) They rarely have fun together anymore. 4.) They avoid talking about conflict. 5.) They argue about or rarely make time for sex. 6.) They can hardly remember the time when they fell in love. If you’ve noticed some problems in your relationship, there are self-help books that teach communication and intimacy-building skills. You may also wish to consult a professional to assess your strengths and weaknesses and develop a relationship-building plan. If you want to try on your own, here are a few things you can do to try to bring your relationship back to life: 1.) Together, review your expectations from the relationship. 2.) Acknowledge the disappointments and hurts. 3.) Identify the relationship’s trouble spots. 4.) Stick to facts and feelings to leave less room for disagreement & defensiveness. 5.) Discuss the problem list with your partner. 6.) Together, design solutions. 7.) Build relationship skills that will help each of you reach the goals you have identified. 8.) One or both of you may need to learn to handle conflict or anger, listen better or be more assertive.
Dr. Gregg Pizzi is a Liscensed Psychologist and Director of Dr. Gregg A. Pizzi & Associates, P.A. in Miami located at 175 SW 7th St.; For more info. or a consultation, call 1.888.DRPIZZI or visit his website at DrPizzi.com.
Get Organized
One of the best ways to reduce stress is to avoid it in the first place. Getting and staying organized is key to keeping you from feeling overwhelmed and out of time. Here are a few tips and tools that might come in handy.
Track It
Choose a simple, easy-to-use calendar app that can be synched on both your phone and your computer. Make sure to immediately enter any appointments you make, whether business or personal.
Prioritize It
Keep a task list, noting any deadlines, and put them in order of priority. Make sure to keep this updated. Sometimes you just can’t get everything done — this way, you’ll know what you can afford to drop.
Dump It
The trash can is there for a reason — namely, to get rid of all that junk cluttering up your desk. If you need it, file it. If you don’t, it’s time to trash it. Once you clear off your workspace, it’s a lot easier to keep it that way.
