Overstressed In the Fast Lane? Discover the Roadmap
from Chaos to Sanity

© Mardi Milligan, MBA

Want to get out of the fast lane, but you don't know how? Your gas tank says full, but you feel like you’re sputtering on the last fumes of the gas tank? Feel overwhelmed, but there’s no time for an overhaul?

You can keep your foot on the gas pedal to high stress and speed through life at 110 mph 24/7 if you want to. You know that you are headed in the direction of a brick wall. So how do you stop before you hit it head-on? Let up on the gas pedal, slow down and tune in to what's really important--YOU!

PIT-STOP: Time to pull over for your personal diagnostic tune-up. Breathe and enjoy a rest stop to pre-plan the next portion of your journey.

1. Get a blank piece of paper and a pencil.
   
2. Write down ALL the roles you have in your life today: spouse, parent, caretaker, friend, soccer mom, work title, grocery shopper, neighbor, committee chairs, etc. Do not get overwhelmed by this list. Just realize you cannot change what you aren't aware of.
   
3. Choose which roles can be dropped or those you can take a “brake” from. Cross them off your list now!
   
4. Decide which roles you can ask for some help with--you don't have to do everything by yourself. Make a list of people you can ask to help you. Follow-through to call them and make sure you ask them for assistance.
   
5. In your day planner, write down one fun thing each week you can do for yourself and do it!

   With this exercise you've created some open space, now use it for yourself!

6. Resist the urge to feel guilty. You can't be your best to yourself and others, if you're mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually drained.
   
7. Say “no” to self-sabotage by keeping these regular, planned times open just for YOU!

Fine Tuning Tip:  Discover the Roadmap from Chaos to Sanity when you STOP doing for everyone else and START doing something nice or yourself. You deserve it. You’ve earned it. You’re worth it!

	Send URL to Friend Your Name: Friend's Name: Your Email: Friend's Email: Notes(optional):

Mardi Milligan/MBA/Speaker/Trainer with Fine Tuning Solutions saves organizations time and headaches by offering tune ups in customer service, attitude and supervisory skills for consistency to "Get ALL your employees all on the SAME page."  © 2006, 2007 Mardi Milligan of Idram Publishing Co., LLC PO Box 17137, Missoula, MT  59808 *Used by Permission.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the signature box is included.  A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.