1. Set aside time for yourself.
2. Do something you enjoy.
3. Find a new hobby and develop new interests.
4. Exercise: walk, jog, swim, cycle, etc.
5. Get enough sleep.
6. Work out your anger.
7. Talk out your worries.
8. Manage time wisely.
9. Eat right.
10. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, & other drugs.
11. Commit yourself to a reduced-stress lifestyle.
12. Utilize an advanced relaxation method such as:

Deep Breathing

1. Erase any stressful thoughts from your mind.
2. Relax your arms and shoulders.
3. Take a deep breath. Let your abdomen - and then your chest - fill with air.
4. Exhale slowly. Repeat the process until your breathing is regular and steady. Let your mind concentrate on each breath.

Meditation

1. Find a quiet place where you can sit for 20 minutes without being disturbed.
2. Sit down, and close your eyes.
3. Choose a word or sound and say it over and over for 10 minutes.
4. Be quiet and listen to the word or sound as you repeat it.
5. If other thoughts enter your mind, making it hard to relax, don't worry - just allow the thoughts to pass.

Visualization

1. Close your eyes.
2. Take a deep breath, then slowly exhale.
3. Imagine yourself in an ideal place - a sunny tropical beach, a clear mountain top, or a beautiful forest.
4. Use all your senses - smell, touch, hearing, taste - to create your favorite scene.

(Back)