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Stress Decoded: Personalized Strategies for a Calmer You

Here is an article by the very wise and articulate Cheryl Conklin of Wellness Central, about a subject central to my work as a therapist: stress – what causes it, and how to manage it on various fronts, so it doesn’t manage you. Stress is a normal part of everyday life, especially in today’s world of conflicting demands for our time and attention. Remember life before email and voicemail when we weren’t all expected to be tuned in and responsive 24/7? Remember life before the term “multitasking” was coined? Remember more quiet, calm and simplicity? Remember when parenting wasn’t a guilt-ridden constant chauffeuring after ten hours at your “day job”? The vast majority of individuals and couples I see have dilemmas like these with themselves and each other around their relationships with stress, so common in our current culture. So, read on, for some great tips and a broad perspective about this subject, especially now that we’re in the midst of the holidays (when the stress meter often goes haywire), and begin to enjoy a calmer, more peaceful you! Susan PS. Feel free to contact me for some therapy if you need help with this issue. I’ll soon have a better idea about my availability in early 2024. Relaxing Woman — Portsmouth, NH — Susan Lager The pace of life is ever-increasing in today’s fast-moving world—and with it, stress becomes a subtle yet constant presence. This rapid pace often leads to stress infiltrating our daily lives in various forms. Understanding and identifying the underlying causes of this widespread issue is crucial. And recognizing the roots of stress is the first step toward dealing with it effectively. This comprehensive guide from Susan Lager sheds light on the different stressors that affect us. It provides practical steps to lessen their impact, paving the way for a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

The Stress Identification Challenge

Understanding what triggers stress is pivotal in managing it. These triggers could range from professional pressures and personal relationship dynamics to financial concerns and health issues. Recognizing these sources is the foundational step in devising a strategy to counteract stress. By acknowledging these factors, you can begin to address them effectively.

Reinventing Your Professional Self

Workplace stress can be overwhelming. Consider a career shift if your current job is too demanding or unfulfilling. Online degree programs offer flexibility to pursue new educational avenues while managing work and family commitments. For instance, earning an online doctoral degree allows you to influence educational policies and practices, opening new career pathways. In this context, take time to discover the top universities offering EdD degree programs.

Harmonizing Work and Life

Achieving a balance between work and personal life is crucial for stress management. It’s essential to establish clear boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal time. Prioritizing tasks effectively can significantly reduce work-induced stress. Allocating time for relaxation and engaging in hobbies is also vital. This balance is about reducing stress and enhancing your confidence and overall well-being. Maintaining this equilibrium is key to a healthy, fulfilling life at work and home.

Nutritional Strategies for Stress Reduction

The impact of diet on stress levels is significant. Adopting a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients is key to managing stress. It’s important to stay hydrated and moderate the intake of stimulants such as caffeine and sugar. These dietary adjustments can help maintain stable energy levels. Ultimately, such changes can lead to a notable reduction in stress.

Breathing Your Way to Calm

Relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation are highly effective in managing stress. They can be seamlessly incorporated into everyday life for instant stress relief. These practices not only offer immediate calm but also contribute to sustained tranquility. Their ease of integration and effectiveness make them indispensable in the stress management toolkit.

Soothing Financial Anxieties

Financial stress is a widespread issue in today’s world. It’s important to manage your finances prudently, which includes efforts to improve your credit score. A robust score above 740 can lead to more favorable loan terms. This, in turn, can ease your financial pressures and help lower your stress levels.

The Power of Positivity

Adopting a positive outlook is a transformative way to change our perception and response to stress. Engaging in practices like gratitude and mindfulness cultivates a positive mindset. This shift in attitude equips us to tackle stressful situations with greater resilience and optimism. A positive approach can significantly enhance our ability to manage stress effectively.

Exercise as the Natural Stress Dissolver

Regular physical activity serves as a powerful tool in combating stress. Integrating exercise into your daily routine can uplift your mood and ease tension. This practice not only enhances physical health but also significantly improves mental well-being. As a natural and easily accessible method, exercise is a transformative approach to managing stress.

Wrapping Up

Though an inevitable part of life, stress doesn’t have to control or overwhelm us. Recognizing the sources of stress is a crucial step toward managing it effectively. We can significantly mitigate its impact on our lives by implementing proactive strategies. Embracing a holistic approach that balances physical and mental health is essential. This balance is the key to achieving a state of happiness, relaxation, and overall fulfillment.

Boost Your Confidence and Live Life on Your Terms With This Guide

You Got This Quote Painted on Asphalt — Portsmouth, N.H — Susan Lager

“Once again, Cheryl Conklin from WellnessCentral.info has hit the mark with her latest insights about how confidence can be enhanced through specific attitudes and behaviors. (I like to tell my clients that it’s a myth to think that confidence is a born trait, or that you only have it if you were on the right line at the right time). Instead, as Cheryl indicates, it’s something that can be boosted intentionally.”

Like many people, you may be looking for ways to feel or look better, or to improve your career by finding a better-paying job. Don’t stay stuck in a rut waiting for a lucky break; take control of your life and make some changes that will help you boost your confidence so you can reach out and grab what you want. To jumpstart your journey toward success, psychotherapist and relationship coach Susan Lager presents several valuable tips that will help you along the way.

Stop Right There: Unhealthy Habits to Kick for a Better Personal Life

Woman Wrapped With Stop Tape — Portsmouth, N.H — Susan Lager
Image Courtesy of Pexels

Here’s an excellent guest article by Cheryl Conklin from wellnesscentral.info about tools for self nurture and for avoiding negative thoughts and behaviors. These tools are important for everyday life, and even more critical during the pandemic.

Stop. No, really, stop. Those harmful habits of yours are hurting you! Not sure which ones are damaging? Being negative, hanging out with toxic people, getting no exercise, spreading yourself too thin with poor time management, and comparing yourself to others are all habits you should break. Read on to learn more.

Being Negative

Being negative doesn’t necessarily mean being angry or frustrated — those are normal human emotions. It’s how you handle these emotions and the situations in which you feel them that you can work on. Verywell Mind explains that managing negative emotions comes down to embracing the feeling(s), determining why you feel that way, allowing yourself to understand the message your mind is sending, and releasing the feeling(s) to move forward.

Welcome to my new website!


As many of you out there probably already know, developing a new website is like making a new marriage – exciting, scary, and VERY unfamiliar. The old relationship may have gotten a bit stale or outdated, but the “devil you know” often feels more workable than the one you don’t!

This new website has been a four month collaboration with the ever patient saints at Dexmedia who put up with my endless questions and fussiness over little details. They all deserve high praise, and hopefully, some time off after dealing with my obsessiveness for all this time.

On this new site you can more easily contact me via email and phone, connect with my social media sites, access my forms, search your concerns or topics in my “Search” bar (upper right), get into my Amazon Store where you can find and buy books you’re looking for, and more easily find my office, among other things. The other thing I hope you notice is that the site is not heterosexist, but conveys my strongly held value of servicing same sex couples as well.

I’m open to productive feedback regarding your experience on this new site – how easily it functions for your needs, how to find what you’re looking for, and overall if it’s a pleasant experience using it. So, here we go!

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About
Susan Lager

I am a licensed, board certified pyschotherapist and relationship coach in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Through my psychotherapy or coaching services, I can provide you with skills and tools to transform your life.

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