This is the first in a series of interviews with top thinkers in the work-life balance community.

Debbie Mandel, M.A., author of Addicted to Stress: A Woman’s 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life, told me in an email interview how she views the current slowdown.

She writes:

“There is recess in recession. Children learn better after recess, so this is the time to collect your energy and regenerate.

Her tips?

• It’s time to reclaim your identity – do you know what you uniquely bring to the table?
• Do something creative. Creativity in one area transfers to another.
• Exercise to shed stress, feel empowered and organize your day around good health.
• Manage the small stressors you have control over because they inundate and overwhelm.
• Stress will always land on your doorstep, but you don’t have to constantly open the door.”

It’s time to reevaluate, not devalue, what we have and who we are. I would also suggest challenging yourself to a new routine by changing just one thing you do every day. As Debbie says, you don’t have to answer the knock if you don’t want to and even a slight shift in your habits can make all the difference!