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January 2004 ETC Corner
Am I Depressed?
By Mary Southerland
The following is a checklist to help you determine if you or someone you love is depressed. Feeling depressed occasionally is part of life. But if it lasts more than two weeks check with a doctor or Christian counselor.
___ 1. Fatigue or decreased energy
___ 2. Irritability and/or anger
___ 3. Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
___ 4. Lack of interest in normal activities
___ 5. Insomnia or oversleeping
___ 6. Weight gain or loss
___ 7. Excessive crying
___ 8. Thoughts of death or suicide
___ 9. Inability to participate in normal relationships
___10. Inability to work or carry out normal activities
___11. Difficulty in making decisions
___12. Often afraid
An Encouraging Word
THINK before you speak by asking these questions:
T - Is it true?
H - Is it helpful?
I - Is it inspiring?
N - Is it necessary?
K - Is it kind?
Stress-busters
By Mary Southerland
1. Pray all day...about everything.
2. Get up 15 minutes earlier to avoid the morning rush.
3. Bury a duplicate car and house key in the back yard.
4. Schedule a realistic day with margins of extra time for interruptions.
5. Make friends with non-worriers.
6. Carry a pocket size Bible in your purse to read while waiting.
7. Every day, do at least one thing you really enjoy.
8. Unplug the TV, phone, pager, computer, fax...for an hour.
9. Try this simple breathing exercise: breathe in to the count of 9. Hold breath for 9 counts. Exhale to count of 9.
10. Tackle big jobs by dividing them into smaller tasks.
11. Laugh a lot.
12. Take 5 minute "mini-vacations".
13. Soak up 10 minutes of sunshine every day.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut)
15. Read the 23rd Psalm every day.
Great Tips For Organizing Paper Clutter in Your Home
By Glynnis Whitwer
Create a filing system - Every home needs a filing system to keep receipts for big purchases, owner's manuals, medical and tax records, important documents and financial records. Purchase hanging folders, manilla file folders and labels to get started. Organize by big topics with the hanging folders, and smaller sub-topics with file folders. Example: Hanging File: Electronics. Sub-files: television, computer, cell-phone contract, video camera.
Use a planner - Choose a nice professional planner or an inexpensive, spiral notebook (the kind with the spirals on top). Use this for your to-do lists, and general information. Keep this handy and add to it throughout the day. This is a great way to eliminate little pieces of paper.
Kid's Art Work - I invested in a 3-ring binder and plastic sheet protectors. When my little Picasso's create a work of art, I make sure their name is on it, add the date, and stick it into the 3-ring binder. This is also where I tuck stories and hand-drawn cards.
Activity Ideas - Where to keep all those restaurant menus, brochures for the roller rink, cupcake decorating ideas and so on? A three-ring binder with tabbed inserts, and plastic sheet protectors works great. Invest in a 3-hole puncher and get organized.
Things to Read - We all have catalogs, magazines, newsletters and books that we want to read. Here are a few ideas: Identify one shelf in a bookshelf for just those things. Put a basket by your favorite chair. Put some in a bag in the car. Then, when you are waiting for kids at practice or in a doctor's office, grab the bag and get caught up. Unless you are a keeper, then give magazines away when you are done.
Decorating Ideas - Don't save an entire magazine for one great photo. Cut out the photo and recycle the magazine. Ideas for decorating, landscaping and cooking can go in binders or purchase some cute stacking boxes and use them to store clippings. Invest in an inexpensive labeling machine for an organized look.
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