Self Care Center 

According to a 2007 study conducted by the American Psychological Association, some three quarters of Americans experience stress in a given month. One third of Americans feel they are living with extreme stress, and a little under half (48%) of Americans felt at the time of the study that their stress levels had increased over the previous five years. While these statistics may be a bit outdated, the fact remains the same: stress and stress related issues affect most Americans at some point in their lives. 

Go to work. Take care of the kids (our own and/or the children placed in our care). Take out the trash. Pay those bills. Far too many of us have an incredible amount of responsibilities in our lives. In the process of taking care of these responsibilities, all too often we forget to take care of ourselves. This and this alone leads to elevated levels of stress, burnout in ministry, and eventually an inability to complete the abundance of tasks set before us. 

Here are a few suggestions for taking care of yourself and managing stress:

• Spending time alone. Whether you are introvert or an extrovert, spending time alone is an important part of taking care of yourself. Meditation, quit self-reflection, and prayer are just a few of the beneficial ways in which time alone can be spent. 
• Taking a break from stressful situations. If work is stressful, take time out to do something else, such as exercise or reading a good book. Removing yourself from the stressful situation will help you to refocus and return to the problem or situation at a later date with a fresh outlook.