Today's Stress Tip..by G. Gaynor McTigue..WED.8/31/05

Boil your children's choices down to either/or.

Getting your kids involved in decision-making is a good thing. It teaches them responsibility, builds confidence and self-reliance. But giving them too many choices can be confusing, stressful and overwhelming. (Just as it is for adults!) So simplify their selection process. Examples: "Would you like to go to the park today? Or do a craft?" "Do you want to wear your blue shirt, or the yellow?" Also, couching an unwanted prospect in a choice can make it more palatable: "It's time for bed. Would you like me to read this story...or that one?" Uncomplicated either/or decisions. They'll make your child's life easier. They'll make your life easier. Why make yourself crazy?

Based on G. Gaynor McTigue's acclaimed book Why Make Yourself Crazy? featured in major publications and on talk shows across America.
100-Strategy Print Edition ...300-Strategy eBook Edition

Don't have a stroke trying to open a package.

There's a competition among manufacturers to see who can make their products the most exasperating to open. And they're all doing a terrific job. What used to be fairly easy can now be infuriating. Vacuum-sealed jar lids could humble Arnold Schwarzenegger. Blister packs are absolutely impenetrable. Twist-off bottle caps will gouge your fingers. Cellophane snack bags defy pulling apart. First, resign yourself to not being able to enjoy what you bought right away. Then, prepare to do battle. Keep a pair of strong scissors handy. (Hedge shears for more brawny containers.) If you're worried about how the package will look if you have to bring it back, don't. It's not your fault. And if the only difference between two brands is the ease of getting it open, well...you know which one to choose. Why make yourself crazy?

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