As her beloved husband Alex Trebek continues his journey with stage IV pancreatic cancer, Jean Currivan Trebek, 56, is sharing advice for coping with life’s tough transitions — including losing a loved one to cancer. In a new blog post on InsideWink.com, Trebek shared that she had recently lost a close friend of hers named Diane to cancer, and that the experience made her recognize how important it is to “look around, be present to really what's going on and to appreciate what I have.” In the wake of the loss, she shared “Jean Trebek’s 13 Tips To Help You Move Through Life's Transitions.”
Jean Trebek’s 13 pieces of advice for dealing with tough transitions:
1. ACCEPT YOUR FEELINGS.
“Be more compassionate or accepting of your feelings,” Trebek says. “Resisting them takes more energy.”
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2. ASK YOURSELF, “Given what is … what would bring me comfort?”
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3. DO SOMETHING SWEET FOR YOURSELF.
“Buy some flowers, get a massage, a new tea,” Trebek says. “Or enjoy an ice cream sundae.”
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4. MOVE IT:
“Move walk, run, stretch, dance, swim or ride a bike,” Trebek says. “Physical exercise can lift up your mental well-being by reducing your stress and anxiety over life transitions. It increases your 'feel-good' endorphins, promotes confidence and can shift your thinking away from negative thoughts with a good healthy distraction.”
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5. DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE.
“Do something nice for someone else,” advises Trebek. “It gets you out of your head, and it always feels good to give to another. "And the best thing is the feeling you are left with, like a little surprise party for the soul."
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6. ASK FOR HELP.
“When you are uncertain about what may lie ahead, asking for help can be beneficial in reducing your stress and gaining perspective,” Trebek says.
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7. GET SOME ZZZ'S.
“Get enough sleep,” Trebek advises. “Skimping on sleep can mess with your mood and make it tough to focus. Staying sharp and positive can help you discover an easier path to move through the changes presented before you.”
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8. BE WITH YOUR PET.
Trebek says, “The companionship and sheer joy of simply hanging with your pet has an amazing mood-boosting power!”
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9. WATCH A COMEDY MOVIE.
“Shift your focus and give your thoughts a rest,” writes Trebek, linking to the “100 best comedy movies of all time”
10. TALK WITH A FRIEND.
“Hey, we all go through tough times,” she writes. “A good friend will listen and sit next to you on the bus.”
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11. JOURNAL.
“Put your frustrations and troubles down on paper,” writes Trebek. “Actively engage with your thoughts.”
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12. CALMING RITUALS.
“Create a significant ritual light a candle and say a prayer. Calming rituals are proven to reduce stress.”
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14. TAKE A SALTWATER BATH.
“Elevate your mood and sleep better by taking some relaxing time for you with a calming hot bath!”
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