1. Make a not-to-do list. If you keep a list of things to do every day, great! It helps keep you organized and adds order to your life. But sometimes those lists get out of hand, along with your responsibilities, and a lot of things just never seem to get done. If you find yourself overwhelmed with leftover items on your list, then it's time to sit down and make a list of things that you can hand off to someone else. Stress can be caused by trying to take on too much, so don't. Delegate, and delegate without guilt or worry. That is the secret of some of the most effective political and industry leaders. It'll work for you too.
2. Laugh. Laughter is a great release for stress, and there's something out there that will suit your sense of humor and your schedule. Got a couple of hours? Rent or go see a comedy film. Got a couple of minutes? Check out the comics in your local newspaper or online. Feed your sense of the ridiculous by picking up a copy of the Weekly World News (or view the online edition). Keep a book of jokes or funny quotes handy. Tape a favorite sitcom for those days when you need a lift. Seek out a witty or entertaining friend who will keep you amused over a cup of coffee or a dinner. The value of laughter is often underrated. Lighten up, and your stress level will go down.
3. Play. You're not a kid anymore, but who said that you had to stop having fun? Play is even more underrated than humor - that could also be one of the reasons we're so stressed out these days. Adults have really forgotten the importance of imagination, pretending and playtime. Indulge your inner child by visiting a toy store... and shopping for yourself. Go play some ball, find a board game you remember fondly from your childhood, or try out the latest video or computer game. Fly a kite. Get one of those balsawood airplanes, assemble it and send it soaring down the driveway. Buy some Silly Putty online! Take an hour to completely stop being a grown up! Kids, for the most part, don't know what stress is. Revisiting your childhood will help you forget.
4. Read a good book or a magazine. And no, this does not mean the latest computer manual, entrepreneurial magazine or even Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. Lose yourself in a novel of your choosing - a mystery, romance, classic literature, anything with an engrossing narrative. And put down the latest issue of Money or Time in favor of Interview, The New Yorker or Rolling Stone. Pick up an architectural magazine to look inside some beautiful buildings. Flip through a fashion mag, especially one that has really expensive or outrageous styles. Get the latest Sports Illustrated. The book or magazine is meant for enjoyment and relaxation. Forget about learning something or enhancing your career. Stimulating your brain with interesting words or visuals doesn't have to have a purpose. Use it as a temporary escape from the day.
5. Stop being so negative! If you've looked at each one of these de-stressors up 'til now and found a reason why they won't work for you, then you really need this one. It's time for you to give yourself an attitude adjustment. Sometimes you are your biggest cause for stress. You can have a great life but if you think it's lousy, or if you think you're worthless, you're creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Almost without exception, your life is what you tell yourself it is. If you say it's great, you can be penniless and still be happy. If you say you're overworked and overwrought, then you are. Is your life full of problems or challenges? Everything depends on your point of view. Research points out that optimists suffer less stress than pessimists. The only difference between an optimist and a pessimist is the quality of their inner chatter. Instead of focusing on the bad, embrace the good. Give yourself regular pep talks, and believe you are worth it (because you are!).

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This article sponsored by Stress Less.

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