In my opinion, one of the extreme stressful times is going to the dentist or an oral surgeon. I'd agonize over the prospect of setting up an appointment and stressing out until the Big Day. But now, I train myself to avoid doing all of that and resorted to training myself to remain calm.
FIRST STEP: Making an appointment. To handle this, figure out whether you prefer a morning or afternoon appointment and how soon. If you're considering a dental appointment, figure out whether the following day or week works best for you. Then call. I know that doing this is extremely stressful, but it must be done. And it is up to you to do it. To get through this, promise yourself a treat right after you get the work done. It doesn't have to be a big deal, just something to look forward to once everything is done.
SECOND STEP: Reduce the stress from in-between aggravations, such as paying bills, getting a necessary repair done in the house, writing a letter, etc. At this point, you want to minimize little stressors so that they don't ultimately increase to bigger stresses. Find something that relaxes you, such as enjoying music or a favorite TV situation comedy.
THIRD STEP: As the Big Day draws near, take care of everyday chores, such as supermarket shopping, laundry, and the like. Once these chores are done, their completion frees up your time and reduces stress. Remind yourself that you have a treat of your choice after your appointment, even if that treat is a cup of coffee at a nearby diner. Imagining how good you'll feel once it is all over will help you reduce a lot of stress.
THE BIG DAY: Plan to get out of bed a little earlier than usual this morning. Have some breakfast and listen to music. Deal with smaller chores, such as cleaning up litterboxes, washing dishes, making the beds, and so forth. Be aware of the time you'll need to leave the house. Remember to allow enough time to drive or get public transportation. This morning, you're focusing on taking things one step at a time. Having a plan and implementing its steps will help to relieve a lot of stress. In your mind, visualize yourself as having the procedure completed and walking out of the dentist's or doctor's office on your way home. And as soon as possible afterward that same day, reward yourself with that long-awaited treat! You deserve it.
Dorothy Zjawin is the author of a number of Instructor articles that inspired her published book, Teaching Ideas for the Come-Alive Classroom (Parker/Prentice-Hall). She has used the strategy explained in this article successfully many times.
No comments:
Post a Comment