Stress is created by the inability to manage your reaction to your outside stimulus. In other words, you let your life get to you! You do not need to be the best time-manager or methodical person to alleviate stress. Here are a few ideas:

Keep a small book of wired index cards:
Keeping an ongoing to-do list and "don't forget" list will make your life easier. Unlike a refrigerator, you can carry portable index cards in a bag or back pocket. You can check items off and maintain everything that needs to be done, said, mailed, or bought in one location. You can write down work, family, and personal items. You can SEE your life, and you can give yourself a break as you check things off.

Remember that the to-do list will never be done:
You can write ten new things today that will replace the ten things you did last night. The key to life is living. Living requires a series of activities. You will never reach a point in your life where everything you must get done immediately is put to rest. Lingering issues are present in even the most organized individual's life. Embrace the reality that life is meant to be busy and active. Be proud of your ability to balance it not master it.

Live life in 20 minutes:
Large tasks and personal goals are daunting when you are stressed and limited in time and/or money. Make a commitment to spend 20 minutes a day doing important routines: cleaning, chores, errands, working out, hobby, new skill, phone calls, emails, mail, filing, etc... If you commit to 20 minutes a day, you will have put in over two hours of work to your goal in one week. Two hours is plenty to learn a new language or clean out the basement. Don't plan to knock yourself out by finishing a large goal in one day or weekend.

Enjoy Sunday:
There are two people in this world: those who rest on Sunday and those who see it as "free" time to work. Sunday is the only day most people have off from work. For some, it is another regular workday, but everyone has "one day off" or "time off" that should be used for resting. Many of us choose to do our most unpleasant tasks on our personal time. All you do is find yourself overwhelmed and overworked by Monday morning. Read a book. Pamper yourself. Play a game. Meet up with friends. Watch a family movie. Do whatever you need to do to "work" on your quality of life on your day off.

Breathe and eat:
Being aware of healthy habits is important to handling stress. You may have a deadline at work, but you will feel loads better when you grant yourself the right to eat and sleep, even if it is for a little while. Do not deprive yourself or punish yourself of basic human rights simply to earn a paycheck-or worse, please someone else.

Stay in touch with your social needs:
Some people prefer to be alone when they are stressed. Many want to handle their problems on their own. This is fine. No one is forcing you to share your woes with the world, but there is a difference between privacy and alientation. Your friends may not know what is wrong or know how to help, but they will know how to make you happy for an hour. Attend the parties, dinners, gatherings, and answer the phone and return the emails. A small social interaction may go a long way from making you feel alone and bogged down to understood and supported.

Stress is not meaningless. It is a serious part of society. Everyone wants to do better and be better, and the personal standards and demands we place on ourselves are sometimes worse than any family or bosses can place. Be mindful of your capacity and ablity to accomplish your pressures and challenges.

Learn more about this author, Prin Dumas.
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