Take care of your body: When your body is working right, the rest of you feels well and you are better able to face difficult challenges. You do yourself and others a favor by eating nutritious foods, getting adequate sleep, and staying physically active. Healthy habits in addition to good hygiene will help protect you from a variety of illnesses.
Take time to relax: It’s easy to feel guilty for taking time to relax. But relaxing activities not only provide a restful break, but also helps you enjoy life. Then you are better able to face stressful situations.
Nurture your spirituality: What is important to you? How can you make a difference in the world? Find activities that bring clarity of purpose and a sense of connection, such as meditation, religious practices, or spending time in nature.
Additional Resources
For more information about developing resilience, go to www.apa.org/helpcenter and www.liveyourlifewell.org.
Our 24 page .pdf slide show is available here: Resilience FACTS.
If you want to talk to someone about fostering resilience in times of disaster, call American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health at 701-364-1800.
This information provided by Red River Resilience (March, 2010).
