Stress Resets by Jennifer L. Taitz

STRESS RESETS by Jennifer L. Taitz, a clinical psychologist and an assistant professor at UCLA, has three main sections. The first – called Befriending Stress, Living Better – is rather text heavy, but intended to provide background and a better understanding of topics like regulating emotion, overthinking, and thriving without substances. Many readers will turn quickly to the more specific ideas for “How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes” that Taitz offers in the second (Stress Resets for Intense Times) and third (Stress Buffers For Building Resilience) sections. The timeframes are different (short-term exercises vs. longer-term habits of mind), but those strategies are each further divided between Mind, Body, and Behavior. Taitz provides a lengthy bibliography (almost fifteen percent of the book is detailed references and resources) so these are not necessarily “new” activities (e.g., breathing exercises, scan your body, laugh more!), but they are organized in a very helpful way. Each of the 75 ideas has a when, how and why section, allowing readers to think more clearly about appropriate timing, execution, and science behind each idea (e.g., why an ice-cold face bath leads to feeling calmer or making your bed contributes to a sense of accomplishment). In fact, Taitz writes that readers should think of STRESS RESETS “as a recipe book for your well-being -- in other words, accessible, easily digestible strategies with clear instructions that you can pick and choose from, depending on your taste and needs.” Have a look at some of her suggestions, ranging from expanding your gaze, or taking a walk outside, to carving out time to worry or committing to three minutes of mindfulness. They are thoughtful, practical tips.