Stress Diary
I’m a big fan of journaling because it soothes painful thoughts and emotions. Thoughts are expanded upon and reframed through journaling and feelings are expressed. If you are feeling really stressed out try starting a stress diary. If nothing else it will give you self-understanding and validation.
1. Assess Your Stressors

• Write down each stressful event
• What was the source of the stress?
• What was your initial reaction?
• How did your body respond?
• How did your mind respond?

2. Assess Your Coping Response

• What was the stressor?
• How did the stressor affect you?
• Was it threatening?
• Did you feel you could cope with it?
• What were your external resources to meet the challenge
• What were your internal resources to meet the challenge:
• Exactly how did you cope?
• What was the plan of action?
• What were the effects of your coping behavior?
• Did it achieve the goals?

3. Analysis of Your Coping Behavior

• Up to what percentage were you successful ?
• What were the drawbacks?
• How could you have improved?
• Additional precautions for future coping in similar situations

4. Keep a list of your resources to meet future challenges. You can use your list of pleasures!
Taken from http://www.aanssolutions.com/stress%20management.pdf