Longest Job Description in History
Courtesy of the Professional Fiduciaries Association of California, where Dr. Shanahan spoke at their State conference

During our recent fall conference in San Diego, our keynote speaker, Dr. Teresa Shanahan, Clinical Director of Lifeline Healthcare, Inc., a Care Management, Homecare, Placement, Consulting and Training Corporation, offered us the following tips for staying sane with the “longest job description in history.”

1. HAVE FUN

How many times have you laughed today? We humans have these wonderful chemicals in our brains called neurotransmitters. I like to call them “happy people.” When we continue to enjoy life and feel pleasure “happy people” stick around. However, if we go for long periods of time not feeling pleasure or having fun the “happy people” or neurotransmitters start to decrease in our brain Fun and laughter feed our brains, feed our energy, and add to the pleasure of living.

TIP: How do you fit fun into a world that is 24/7? You schedule it! It is just has important as the new client, groceries and time with loved ones. Write down three things that are fun for you. When did you last do them? If you can’t remember, ask yourself; “why am I working so hard and not enjoying the benefits?” Schedule those fun activities right now.

2. EXERCISE

Yes, I know you have heard this a thousand times, exercise, exercise, exercise. Let’s look at exercise from a different viewpoint. The body gives us energy and it gives us freedom to choose our lifestyle. We all work with people everyday who no longer have the freedom to live, as these would choose.

Physical exercise increases blood and circulation to the brain thereby keeping our brains and our bodies healthy. In research complied at the Salk Institute they found that exercise increased clarity of thinking and cognitive functioning. Is all this important to you? As a fiduciary you need to be a clear thinker.

TIP: How to fit exercise into your life. Routine is the only way. Again like fun, schedule it. Look at exercise from a different window: take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator, squeeze your abdominal muscles while you are sitting at your desk, walk instead of drive, walk or exercise with a buddy. Walk when you are waiting to go to court, or for a client, or for an attorney. Remember that I said I would offer you ways to feel sane not particularly look sane.

3. RECOGNIZE AND USE YOUR GIFTS

Not everyone can handle finances and work with people. Ask my accountant, he will tell you that I need to stick with people and stay out of my finances. Think about it in your life – how are you making a contribution? I know you are because I work with many of you. As a Care Manager I recognize and admire what you do. If you still need validation then ask a fellow fiduciary, friend or colleague: “What are my gifts?” After you have asked sit back and listen and really “hear” it.

4. DECREASE STRESS

This is where you break into hysterical laughter. Do what? Is she nuts, does she understand I have the longest job description in history?” Let me share what happens when we are continually under stress. We all have a hormone called Cortisol. On a good day this is a nice adrenal hormone. On a bad day when you are under stress cortisol becomes a nasty hormone. It is like the uninvited guest who comes and eats all the food. It interferes with the brains supply of glucose, which fuels the brain. Not only is it the uninvited guest who eats all the food but also now it decides to pull up a chair and sit awhile. Guess where the cortisol sits? In your Hippocampus, which is your memory center. So your brain is literally getting a toxic bath when you are under stress. This is why people who are under continued stress often forget things.

TIP: Want to lower your stress? Grab a post-it? Pick a word that relaxes you. Breath works for some people. Now pin up that post-it in expected and unexpected places: the computer, kitchen, car, a drawer. You can also put a reminder in your outlook that says breath and have it pop up every hour. You’re on your way to court, put on some music that relaxes you. If there are problems you need to face then do it. In the research I conducted several years back demonstrated that using an escape avoidance approach led to increased depression. An action problem-solving approach led to feelings of empowerment. Fun and pleasure have a profound effect on decreasing stress.

5. QUIET TIME

Find quiet time. As fiduciaries you often do not have time to catch your breath much less have some quiet time. Yet it is imperative to mental health. Quiet time can be alone time, meditation or prayer time, or for some us we would be happy if it was sleepy time.

Quiet time is not just about the noise outside our body quiet time it is turning off the noise in our head.

TIP: When your mind keeps going on that “to do” list, worrying about a new client or the paper work that needs to be filled out for the court say the word STOP. Then immediately visualize a stop sign. For a few minutes your mind will stop the noise and then in a few more it will probably start up again. Do it again, say STOP. Your mind will need more than one stop sign. You are training your mind. Our minds need training just like our bodies do.

I want to leave you with a parting thought:

If you don’t take care of yourself who will? – Do It – this world needs you!!

Dr. Shanahan is available for speaking engagements.

Teresa Shanahan, Ph.D., is a Care Manager, consultant, trainer, author and speaker based in San Diego, California. Her company Lifeline Healthcare, Inc. assists fiduciaries with Eldercare Solutions by offering Care Management, Homecare, Placement assistance and counseling.