10 Simple Ways to Live a Less Stressful Life

Eric Hamm Says:

October 5th, 2008, 19:40 pm

‘Be early’ is a big one for me. With my consulting business I go on a lot of appointments. If I am late it tends to set a negative tone for the rest of the day. But if I get there early I can sit for a few minutes and have some time to myself. I then go into the meeting much more relaxed and I feel it the rest of the day.

Great things to chew on, Leo.

Success Professor Says:

October 5th, 2008, 19:47 pm

Excellent post Leo.

My favorites are Get Moving, Have a Blast, and Be Early. These are all important for me. I notice such a difference in my life when I’m exercising, doing things that I have fun doing, and making sure I leave early so that I get places on time. It is such a great stress reliever.

I also am a big proponent of simplifying your finances. A week and a half ago I wrote an article about simplifying your budget. You can find it here: http://successprofessor.ca/2008/09/24/simplify-your-budget/

Simple Sapien Says:

October 5th, 2008, 20:17 pm

These are all great. My main trouble is taking things on one at a time. I try to implement better habits and kick old ones all at once, I get frustrated, and I fail. I guess I just need to develop the patience.

So many times I worry and stress about nothing too. If there is something that I don’t want to do the next day, I will dread it and worry about the whole day before. I let things affect me before they even happen. It is a hard habit to get rid of when you have been thinking that way your whole life.

Thanks for the tips though, Leo. Keep up the excellent posts!

- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien

Awakeblogger Says:

October 5th, 2008, 20:24 pm

Believe it or not, creativity is a source of stress for me. But this is only because I overload with the creative things I want to do :) But it can happen. :)

Lynn O'Connor Says:

October 5th, 2008, 20:30 pm

Great post. You’ve told us about these before, but its good to see them here again. I’m trying Leo, trying. I try to do 15 minutes of Kundalini yoga each morning. I took to heart the do every day for 30 days and did that. But I still slide off the wagon, and then it is hell to get back on. I have edged into Tibetan Buddhism, doing a concentrated and analytical meditation almost every day. This really has helped me enormously, and enough to keep it up, I don’t slide far on this one. Finances, yi yi just mentioning them and my stress goes up. I just got a huge grant which will pay for my research for years to come. I should have no worry about money, but I tend to be a spendthrift, especially online (Amazon, some of which is paid for by a grant; programs (new, GTD and others) (ie constant computer costs). Levengers –I swear I went through a phase where I bought out levengers and my clinical/academic home office began to look like a levenger’s show room. You get the point. I am trying to stop now. Why do something that causes me stress.

Thanks for the post, all the reminders

Leo Says:

October 5th, 2008, 20:36 pm

Thanks, guys. I have written about these in different places before, but I wrote this post as a way to put together the best methods in one place, especially as I’ve been getting a lot of emails asking about this issue. It seems like stress is a major issue for a lot of people!

Richard Says:

October 5th, 2008, 20:43 pm

I read this post while watching the Baseball game. I read #1and decided that it would be a lot more enjoyable to shut the laptop lid and just watch the game. Go Red Sox!!!

Ryan Goins Says:

October 5th, 2008, 20:53 pm

Another excellent post Leo! Doing one thing at a time is something you bring up time and time again and I’m glad you do. Every time I read that it reminds me to keep my focus on just one task or goal. I’m currently trying to become an early riser and I have noticed focusing on only that has allowed me be much more successful. Thanks for all you do.

Carole Fogarty Says:

October 5th, 2008, 21:06 pm

Awesome post as usual. I’m big on number 5, adding pockets of calmness to my day. I have a 5 minute date with my yoga eye pillow, check in with my breathing which normally gets fast and shallow when I stressed so I focus on breathing into my belly to unwind and slow down or simply sit and have a chai tea whilst doing nothing else.

Adjusting the speed of my day by adding pockets of calmness works wonders for me.

Peace, love and chocolate

Carole
Rejuvenation Lounge

Suzie Cheel Says:

October 5th, 2008, 21:11 pm

Thank you Leo,

Some good reminders there, was about to get out Your Zen Habits, as I have been off track, so seeing your tweet brought me here.

Focusing on one task, does simplify my life. I just need more practise

I find having a regular list of things I do at the start of my day makes my day much lighter and breezier. I have started recording this in a google docs spreadsheet and finding it is a good accountability tool.
Also brings clarity

Suzie

Marelisa Says:

October 5th, 2008, 21:18 pm

I find a funny video on YouTube. There is more and more evidence that laughter has a very beneficial physiological impact on the body, it lowers stress hormones and release feel good hormones. I also meditate.

Scott McIntyre Says:

October 5th, 2008, 21:24 pm

These are very useful pointers for minimising stress, Leo.

As you suggest, an element of stress is needed for us to develop our experiences and reactions to the events of life.

Too little stress can be as physically and emotionally damaging as too much.

I like your first tip- to tackle things one at a time.

Personally, in the past, I have found trying to juggle too many tasks to be the one surefire way to guarantee I feel under pressure.

Yet, I like to have a variety of activities on the go to challenge and interest me.

I don’t know about you, but being bored stresses me as much as being too busy.

Can I ask you Leo, whether you prefer a single task approach over multi-tasking and how you prioritize practically which ones get your attention over the other tasks queuing up to be done?

Liora Hess Says:

October 5th, 2008, 21:33 pm

Great post, and timely. I think we’re all having to do a check of our stress levels right now. Listening to all the predictions of doom and gloom on the news has people worrying and talking about their worries. It makes you worry that you should be worried if you’re not! I reduce stress by exercising, by limiting my exposure to the TV news in particular (prefer to just dip into a few stories online), by working to improve my sleep, by meditating, and decluttering. It’s amazing how immediate the relief is from having a neater home.

Leo Says:

October 5th, 2008, 22:54 pm

@Scott McIntyre, who asked:

“Can I ask you Leo, whether you prefer a single task approach over multi-tasking and how you prioritize practically which ones get your attention over the other tasks queuing up to be done?”

On a minute-to-minute basis, I prefer single-tasking over multi-tasking because I’ve found it to be a much more effective method.

However, on a broader scale, multi-tasking can work well, especially if some of the projects involve processes that are partly automated or where you’re waiting on others to respond or do work. For example, if Project A requires you to do a spurt of work and then wait for a response from a client, it only makes sense to do Project B and even Project C while you’re waiting. That’s multi-projecting, I guess. But while you’re working on Project A’s task #1, focus entirely on that task.

How do I prioritize? I try to pick the tasks/projects that have the highest impact on my life. I do that at the beginning of the day. So today I decided to write two posts (because those are more important than answering emails or doing administrative stuff) and also to work on a longer-term project. With time left over, I’ll do the routine stuff.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy Says:

October 5th, 2008, 23:08 pm

Nice post! It seems the one that gets me every time is number 10! I have some sort of irrational fear of being early , like getting there before I have to is a huge waste of time. But, when I end up being late, it causes so much undue stress and tension. Thanks for reminding me that getting somewhere early can have a profound effect on ones well-being.

Holger Says:

October 5th, 2008, 23:53 pm

What about doing simply nothing?

Maulik Bhatt Says:

October 5th, 2008, 23:54 pm

Nice post, Leo. As usual. But I have one more thing to add.
These are all the steps to reduce your stress when your life is in harmony. I mean, if you are doing any job, which you don’t like, none of these steps will help you reduce your stress. So, my addition would be: Do something you love doing. Be it blogging, or social service, or anything. Don’t do anything you hate. That is the biggest “stresser” in the life. I think Leo might mean the same thing, when he says “declutter” your life.

Lisa Says:

October 5th, 2008, 23:55 pm

You’ve counted all the parts and pieces out with clarity. What I think a lot of us still struggle with is balancing all of them. My partner, for instance, is what I call a “gobbler” — he need unconstrained chunks of time for each of these things to feel relaxed enough to reap their benefits. I’m at the other extreme — I rush through things in such a workmanlike manner that I can miss being mindful.

It’s all about balance!

Darren Alff - Bicycle Touring Pro Says:

October 6th, 2008, 1:04 am

My main problem is scheduling time to have fun. It sounds stupid, but I’m not very good at having fun. I really do need to concentrate more on that one. Thank you for reminding me! That’s what I’ll concentrate on this month!

Miss Attica Says:

October 6th, 2008, 3:43 am

I like to get up early in the morning to do some yoga and meditation, to get a boost of energy, before I wake the kids and go to work. Meditation practice is a great stress-relief for me, which I plan to gradually increase as the kids grow older and more self-reliant.

Thanks again, Leo, for an inspiring post!

Emma Says:

October 6th, 2008, 4:54 am

Ten great points!

I’ve always been very stressed until I started a big general ‘life improvement’ project in December. One major thing for me that has made my life less stressful wasn’t on your list, though: letting things go. It took several months to implement the habit, but I’ve now learnt, through many techniques to ask myself how important this particular stressful item is (e.g. ‘7 Habits…’ important v.s. urgent) and if there is anything I can do about it now (e.g. GTD ‘Next action’ list). If there is nothing I can do right now, I am allowed to just let it go and if there is something I can do, I can do that and then let it go.

Be early is a good one. I’ve always been early to events, but a few months ago I found a new thing to be early to that has really changed my stress levels: my day. Getting up earlier, not stressing through breakfast, and getting some things done that I’ll be too tired to do after work has really helped reduce stress!

Daniel Richard Says:

October 6th, 2008, 5:21 am

Heya Leo! You know, I live a life that has hours which can make one stressed out when not managed properly.

Point: Get Creative

This stood out in this post and by getting creative actually helped me to get my energy up and running even if its having me to be awake for more than 1.5 days straight. :)

I’m now running two blogs, with the first one being handed over to my friend to let him and the rest of the group be more involved in the process, while the newer one (in my name link) is to get me post entries that are more casual and having fun while doing so.

Great post here! Let’s continue to live a less stressful life. All of us.

Daniel

Paul Marculescu Says:

October 6th, 2008, 5:46 am

I very much enjoyed reading this post.

1. One thing at a time is one of my favorite tips from your list, but very hard to achieve :) I often find myself bouncing from one task to another and in the end none seems to be done properly and I also feel exhausted.

I tried to follow the 10. Be early advice, which I previously found in other of your posts. It worked fine while it worked, meaning that I felt fresh and productive during the interval 6-8 AM, but it didn’t last. It seems the habit of staying up late is stronger. I need to work on that.

I agree that 9. Declutter can be a fun one. I apply it some time on my computer, throwing temporary stuff scattered all over, but I should do it more often, daily maybe, as you suggest.

7. Have a blast! Sex is fun, but maybe not that fun if it’s a lot of laughs in there :D

I’m happy to observe I don’t have any of the bad habits you’re using as examples in 4. Develop one healthy habit this month. Maybe the Be early one could help me.

To make me feel better, I combine 8. Get creative and 5. Do something calming into going out and taking pictures. It’s both rewarding and serene for me.

ajaY Says:

October 6th, 2008, 6:21 am

One of the greatest stress-buster for me is breathing exercise called ‘Praanaayaamam’ from Indian Yogis. Its awesome and simple.

Pace Says:

October 6th, 2008, 6:28 am

Something I did recently that helped reduce my stress a lot was to sit down one day with a cleared-off tabletop and a bunch of post-it notes, and write down every single thing that was stressing me out on its own post-it. Simple things like to-do items that I was storing in my head, complex things like vague relationship worries, each one went on a post-it.

I ended up with a very full table. (:

Then I grouped them, organized them, and wrote them down. I put the to-do items into a system so I felt safe and confident they’d get to-done. I gave the more stressful things a higher priority so they wouldn’t continue to itch at me. Then, once they were all out of my head and into my system, I could finally stop worrying about them.

Kyeli (my wife) and I talked about the vague relationship worries. Simply talking about them helped a ton, and we made plans to fix the issues that came up or to talk about them more soon.

Similarly for other areas of my life. First I got them out of my head and onto my coffee table, then I organized them, then I made concrete plans to take care of them.

Stress… gone! (:

Seamus Anthony Says:

October 6th, 2008, 6:52 am

Great list here. My favourite is doing one thing at a time. It is the key to a less stressful life in my opinion :-)

Ken Allan Says:

October 6th, 2008, 7:16 am

Kia ora Leo!

Good tips here. A great post!

I destress a number of different ways. I have to, regularly, in my job.

1
I moderate intake through the mouth, food and alcohol - that’s not to say I don’t enjoy what goes through, I do and very much so.

2
I write - anything: postcards, letters, reports, emails, poetry, blog posts, comments on blog posts. Writing clears the mind of much clutter.

3
I go for walks with my children, with my wife, with friends, or on my own.

4
I enjoy sleeping, and as in 1 above, I moderate my waking hours ;-)

Good night
from Middle-earth

Yann Says:

October 6th, 2008, 8:18 am

I just discovered your blog a few days ago.
It’s great.
One thing that helped me a lot (saved me) is meditation, what is called Chine in tibetan. It’s a way to just let the mind rest not following every thought. Yoga is fine too.

carolina Says:

October 6th, 2008, 8:53 am

it’d be nice if you did a post on finance - with all the turmoil going on in the economy, I think we need a post reminding us that materialism got us to where we are right now.

Early Retirement Middle Way Says:

October 6th, 2008, 8:57 am

Thank you very much for this post. In today’s hectic life, I find that I need many reminders of similar messages, in different forms and different points jump out at me depending on where I am, what I’m doing, what I am thinking. It’s all good! Have a great day!

Andrea Alarcon Says:

October 6th, 2008, 9:28 am

To me, this blog is inextricably linked to the one of finding the awesomeness in life. It’s a matter of remembering that attitude has an enormous effect on how well we deal with our everyday pressures.

Thanks to you Leo, I have started to wake up early. I love it! It really helps me out in this college life of mine. I discovered that if I make it to class late the rest of my day is off-balance. There is nothing more stressful than rushing.

Michael Says:

October 6th, 2008, 10:55 am

Well Leo, What can I say….as always good stuff on your blog….you pointed out the simplest and best ways to have a less stressful life….my favorite is simplify your schedule and be early

Simplify your schedule is the first thing you need to do, you need to block those commitments that are taking your attention from what is important…..we need to learn to say No sometimes, which can be a productive answer…. We need to focus on what matters first, and for that we need to be early to solve them…Then the rest will fall in place as you wish for…..

Thanks Leo for a great post!

Amanda Says:

October 6th, 2008, 11:04 am

Get Moving and Be Early are absolutely my two favorites. I have found that getting to work just twenty or thirty minutes early helps me get organized for the day in the precious quiet time before anyone else is in the office. Also, I am working on developing the habit of thinking positively, from the moment I wake up, about what I’m facing that day and how I’m going to face the challenge with the best of my focus and abilities.

think Says:

October 6th, 2008, 11:26 am

Leo, your post once again captures the concept of zen. Thank you, If I have chose one “Simplify your schedule” is the one answer to a less stressful life. By concentrating on the top 1-3 things on one’s schedule for a few days, it becomes clear most of the things are optional.

Carolyn Winter Says:

October 6th, 2008, 11:26 am

Leo - your list is inspiring and I can especially relate to an aspect of #5 on simplify financing.

In 2007 I had bi-lateral hip replacement surgery and have been slowly becoming a more mobile person ever since. Prior to the surgery and beginning in 1995, my mobility was in slow decline. I accommodated by shopping less and less, and finding other ways and means to get things done. There is no end to the ways one can avoid a shopping trip but in the process, I had not realized the extent to which I had simplified my spending life. Getting my mobility back and the option to go shopping if I want to makes me realize how stressful the consumer / shopping game really is. The stress I think comes from consumer pressure to buy into trends, a convenience or a lifestyle that may beckon to something missing in my life. When my mobility was limited for example, I bought seasonal clothes that fit, felt comfortable, looked good and of good value. I replaced T-shirts that were worn out versus colors not part of this year’s trend or look.

Now that I am back into a shopping mall more than I am used to, I notice I feel the tug for coming home with a new wardrobe I actually don’t need!

So another way to simply life I would say is to unhook from the shopping game. Now that I have my mobility back, I have to remind myself that I don’t need to buy a trend, a look, a lifestyle etc. – I can be my own trend setter buying what I want to meet life’s needs versus what consumer pressure is asking me to buy.

Confident Nerd Says:

October 6th, 2008, 11:52 am

A stressful job will kill you (almost). I fully agree that eating healthy and working out will reduce stress in your life.

A key thing to note is that a lot stress comes from frustration built over the years. Especially if you are stuck in a rut. You constantly need to be growing, otherwise you loose motivation and start getting more negative.

Luise Volta Says:

October 6th, 2008, 12:10 pm

I think there is some good stuff in there that I can use to get past overwhelm. I’m stressed about all the changes I need to make to get past being so stressed. So…I am printing out the first five points. It feels great to know that I already have the last five in place. And I am going to take those one at a time, which is Number One!

Stefani Tadio Says:

October 6th, 2008, 12:31 pm

I just discovered this site a couple of days ago - wonderful posts & the comments are certainly helpful too.

For the past year or more, I’ve prided myself on being a multi-tasker. Lately I’ve been of the mind that logically, I know it doesn’t work - but it still feels good somehow. I’ve been wondering how I could tip the scales so Logic & Feeling match up. Then your site came into my life at just the time I needed to hear the message. Funny thing is, the same message came to me another way, around the same time. Clearly, it’s that thing about when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

Thanks, Leo.

Maura Says:

October 6th, 2008, 15:22 pm

One thing that causes me stress is when I backslide on any new habits…. missing some exercise time, having a budget setback, etc. Do you ever backslide, Leo? If so, how do you handle it?

In my yoga practice I’m working on

– discipline (mine is sorely lacking, but for my regular class attendance, also reflected in my “early” habit failure),
– attention (generally being aware of current state of being at all times, which allows one to act in harmony with one’s intentions - e.g., responding with compassion rather than anger, or taking action to alleviate suffering - e.g., reduce suffering induced from bad habits by replacing them with positive new habits), and
– acceptance without judgement (allowing me to focus on what is, understanding it, and deciding what I might do next, rather than getting stuck wallowing in negative emotions).

Okay, actually I am working on these one at a time, but they sort of work with each other, so as I progress on one, the others begin to fall in line…

bethany Says:

October 6th, 2008, 15:25 pm

thank you, leo, for using my photo.

photography….my way of easing my mind. go out in the middle of nowhere, amid the beauty, shoot photos, and i don’t even notice all the worry melting away.

i’ll have to check back. your blog seems pretty useful.

Tony Says:

October 6th, 2008, 15:57 pm

Wow - this is a great blog. I was jumping from one blog to another and happen to come across yours. I just filled out the subscribtion for this and will look forward to reading more

B. Wilde Says:

October 6th, 2008, 16:19 pm

What a great list you’ve put together. This is a topic that applies to just about everyone - except for you now that you are no longer stressed.

Of all the things I do or can do, humor is by far the biggest de-stressor for me. I love to laugh, and at the same time, I can get so serious with life that I get in a pattern that eliminates my laughter. I try to surround myself with fun people, do fun things with my family and watch things on TV that make me laugh.

I wrote a post similar to this that you may want to take a look at that delves deeper into how I handle stress. If you’re interested, it’s called: Got A Laughin’ Place?

I am so impressed with your content and I can’t help but think of how many lives you are affecting as I see the number of subscribers. What a difference you are making!

Murtaza Says:

October 6th, 2008, 16:31 pm

Lovely Post….!!

As a student……..i would totally agree with #3,#7,#10

#3. Because it keeps me fresh prepares me for the day.(i either go for a swim or a walk early in the morning)

#7. When i feel everything going against my will(It happens a lot in college)….& life’s a blunder….i would just live for the the moment(Yay I’m Still living…!!) & enjoy mother nature(i love watching the sun setting it makes me ecstatic).

#10. Because Being early also means being prepared,so you are prepared to avoid stress.

For an instant stress buster…. i listen to music,a 5-10 minute trance music heals everything non-sense going on in my brain……also while listening i close my eyes and imagine myself winning,fully energized, enjoying life on a holiday somewhere alone on an island…(i know it sounds funny but it works for me :) )

After being a Zenhabits reader for over a year,i had never posted any comments.

This is my first comment…YAY i’m motivated.. :)

FrugalNYC Says:

October 6th, 2008, 17:32 pm

I like the one thing at a time and declutter. Those are the two I’m working on currently. Thanks for congregating all the thoughts in one spot Leo.

Stacy G Says:

October 6th, 2008, 17:32 pm

Great article!!! I can tell you that my favorite way to manage stress is to run away from it as fast as possible (30 minutes of running will usually take all the stress away) and then take a long hot shower. I feel completely recharged after this routine and no stress can get me any longer…

Frank M Says:

October 6th, 2008, 17:37 pm

Recently I have found a saying that I like to use.

Schedule your Priorities NOT Prioritise your schedule

It helps me to get the things done that I should and not to just get a bunch of things done.

Thanks
Frank

lisa Says:

October 6th, 2008, 20:10 pm

A link to your blog was sent to me by email today. I’m so glad that I found it! It’s great inspiration for me right now as have just been faced with a major obstacle in my work/career life. I’ve been trying to just move on as best as I can so all of your ideas are a nice reminder that changes can be made from even the most seemingly impossible situations.

Thank You.

Michael Moniz Says:

October 6th, 2008, 20:49 pm

I tend to always overcommit myself. I have learned the habit of learning to say no.

How I learned to say no came from learning my values, my goals and my vision.

Now I can quickly decide if I want to do something based on how it falls in my life. It is allowing me to move towards my vision, I am game.

If not, I say no so I can have the time to work towards things in my life.

I know longer feel like I have to do things but spend a lot more time doing things because I truly WANT to.

Angel Cuala Says:

October 6th, 2008, 21:21 pm

Another masterpiece here, Leo. I believe that stress is also a valid reason why some people look older than their age.

I have been trying to do all of what you have mentioned, but I think it is the number 7 that I am successful at. I always think of ways on how I can make others smile, and even laugh to death.

By doing this, my stress is being reduced and helping others at the same time.

For me, laughter is STILL the best medicine.

Evelyn Lim Says:

October 6th, 2008, 21:39 pm

I like the idea of doing something calming. Listening to music and getting grounded with walks in the garden do it for me! Meditation is also something that I’d do in the middle of the day, if I feel downright stress!

CrackingDays.com Says:

October 6th, 2008, 22:45 pm

Could I just add that talking with someone and writing really are effective means. :)

Vintage Mommy Says:

October 6th, 2008, 23:08 pm

Exercise is essential to my peace of mind. I’m also trying to make more room for creative endeavors, that’s harder to fit in.

Liara Covert Says:

October 6th, 2008, 23:17 pm

The points are well-said. An additional idea would be to choose to eliminate the word from your vocabulary. If you do not think, feel or talk about a subject (i.e. stress), then you are choosing not to give it energy, not to give it life.

Cassie Schindler Says:

October 6th, 2008, 23:39 pm

For the past ten years, my life has been devoted to the pursuit of balance - in the midst of LIFE’s twists and turns. I call it my “alternate path.” The tips you’ve provided here are so down-to-earth and simple. Yet, even the most simple of solutions can sometimes be difficult to implement on a consistent basis - especially given our crazed culture of speed. It takes desire and discipline.

Thanks for sharing your story and this sound advice. I use several of the tips on your list on a regular basis, as well as some of my own to keep MS (multiple sclerosis) at bay in my life. I’ve recently left my “big job in the city” to teach my own process called called Stop, Balance, Go! Hope you’ll visit me to find out more.

There’s a form of meditation called chanting that’s done with a mala (beads). I call it the “Type A person’s meditation.” Instead of sitting in silent meditation, you can actually still be “doing something” AND inviting balance in at the same time. I highly recommend this method of decreasing stress.

Keep up the good work. I’m so happy my sister turned me on to this site. Be Well, Cassie

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

October 7th, 2008, 1:29 am

I’ve found that the best way to manage my time (and my stress) has been to focus on things that really matter. It’s about knowing what I absolutely have to do and what can either be postponed, delegated, or done away with altogether. It’s about knowing what to take seriously and what to let slide. It’s about taking care of the big things so the little ones take care of themselves and the really little ones don’t bother me at all.

Why do anything else? Why be one of those people who knows more about Hollywood’s hottest couple than they do about their own family and friends? Why be one of those people who spends hours and hours watching the latest reality show but never has time to take a walk or read a book? Those things aren’t important, so why not spend time focusing on the things that are?

(From Work in Progress)

jhOy Says:

October 7th, 2008, 3:17 am

hi!

this is a wonderful blog. just saved your rss link.

anyways, living simple is the best tip for me. minimalism is the great way to live life. free from noises and mess. life struggles are already complicated that is why living it simple is the best way for me to balance life. :)

Martin Wildam Says:

October 7th, 2008, 4:36 am

Paragraph 5. is very funny. And something for me works good: Just STOP. Stop and just be there. Look around and listen as if you never seen and heard this environment before.

Although your post is very complete maybe something that can also be added: (Re-)align with your big picture or goals - as Eugene says: Look on what does really matter.

PierG Says:

October 7th, 2008, 7:10 am

Leo,
another great post: congrats.
What I love, as a former KingOfMultitasking, is: one thing at a time!
Ciao,
PierG

Silke Says:

October 7th, 2008, 8:10 am

This really resonated with me. I’ve been very stressed lately. This past weekend I did a combo of get moving, be creative, declutter, and simplify. By choice, I spent the weekend in the yard. It was hard word and I could focus on the task at hand, i.e., away from my stresses. I also felt very accomplished and physically great. There is something very rewarding about just getting back to the basics.

Tabitha (From Single to Married) Says:

October 7th, 2008, 10:48 am

I’ve started spending an hour every morning at the gym on the treadmill. It’s hard getting up early to do it, but the reward is worth it - it’s amazing the way it affects my outlook on the day and subsequently my stress level!

Messy Mama Says:

October 7th, 2008, 11:30 am

Thank you for your posts, they are always great. I read them almost daily and when I’m needing inspiration. At this moment everything feels pretty messy and even a top ten list seems overwhelming, especially when I need to make progress on all points. I did an exercise one of your commenters suggested relived her stress with post it notes. It helped greatly. I split the post-it notes into four categories - To Do, Life Purpose, Issues with my Life, Issues with my Thinking. I can handle wading through the to dos and even improving issues with my life - the category that is completely overwhelming is life purpose. Everything always circles back around to that one. Any posts you (or anyone) can recommend? Any stories about one’s life purpose being completely lost, then found or unmotivating, then inspiring?

Jayleen Says:

October 7th, 2008, 12:54 pm

De-cluttering the material things in my life is one task I’ve been focusing on. As a birthday gift this year I’m asking for my husband and children to remove material clutter in our life. We have agreed that its clutter but now we need to find the time to eliminate it. I hope we can spend some time together, not bring more material items into my life in the form of material gifts and eliminate some stressors from my life. It feels like a win-win already.

Chaunce Says:

October 8th, 2008, 11:28 am

Perfect timing and another great post.

It still amazes me how easily stress can creep back in when you aren’t making conscious effort on a daily basis to de-stress.

etavitom Says:

October 8th, 2008, 11:53 am

thanks for the great post. my favorite one is getting there early. always more relaxed and peaceful when this happens…

best

brad

Aaron Gaul Says:

October 8th, 2008, 15:48 pm

Your list of behavioral changes here is good. However, for stress relief you need to also tend to your body’s physiology — muscle relaxation, proper breathing, and meditative practices.

Aaron

Kyle Says:

October 8th, 2008, 19:42 pm

Great tip on being early. Even if you are running late, it grants you an opportunity to practice “mindfulness” (since you won’t know you’re late until you are actually late). Both practices will help to reduce stress.

Simon Jones Says:

October 9th, 2008, 9:12 am

Declutter! Oh man if you could see my desk. But you know what, this afternoon - right now, I am going to attack the desk and get it uncluttered! Some time saving expert would probably now tell me of a way that I could combine the two, I could think of a way too but then I’d just have to pick up everything from the floor after wouldn’t I! :-)

Hot Alpha Female Says:

October 10th, 2008, 10:43 am

The one thing that struck out to me was that you included picking up one new habit a month.

The thing with that is …

You replace one bad habit with one good habit each month.

That doesn’t mean that you are like only 12% better.

It actually compounds on itself and like you said the rewards are life changing.

I think that out life is really only ruled by like 5 -10 core habits.

Based on beliefs we hold about ourselves.

Sometimes a simple yet dramatic shift in our beliefs and our habits can just give us results we would not even dream off.

Beautiful and wonderful

Thank You as always

Hot Alpha Female

http://www.hotalphafemale.blogspot.com

Michael Dundas Says:

October 12th, 2008, 4:22 am

I used to be of the belief that people that were successful in their lives especially their professional lives worked long hard hours. Over the years I have watched and spoke to many people that are successful (CxOs, Exective VPs, owners of companies etc). I am not suggesting that they don’t ‘work hard’ but I think many of them actually ‘work smarter’. In my observations most still have time for friends, family and extra-curricular activities. ‘Working smarter’ is all about deploying concepts such as the ones discussed in this blog post.

This fall I started with ‘one thing at a time’ and ’simply your schedule’. Although neither of these concepts is where I want it to be yet, I have them integrated into my daily routine by the new year. The plan is then to add another concept. I started with ’simply your schedule’ by monitoring my calendar meeting and appointment entries. This had a direct and positive affect on “one thing at a time”.

Practical Motivations Says:

October 12th, 2008, 8:43 am

Be early works magic for me. How do you make being early a habit? Do it for 30 days in a row and it will become a habit before you know it. All it needs is a conscious effort and focusing on the benefits you can derive out of it like trust and a life less stressful.

Click A Life Coach Says:

October 16th, 2008, 5:10 am

I am doing bikram to keep my stress levels under control. This is both meditation and activity for me. It helps me to stay calmer.

Like your point 1, do one thing at a time - I am working on this as I have too many things on my plate.