Practical Steps:
• Anticipate stressful times and plan to reduce the stress. Imagine the problems and difficulties coming at you, but see yourself handling them calmly and effectively.
• Predict when you are most likely to become stressed and use your imagination to prepare the brain to excel.
• Exercise for 25 minutes 4 to 5 times per week. (Sudden exercise can be harmful. Start slowly and build up gradually).
• Avoid nutritional stressors like excess calories (eat little, live long), animal fat, sugar and refined carbohydrates, caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) and salt.
• Avoid eating at night. Metabolic rate is lower at night.
• Eat slowly. Become a slow eater. Never eat on the run.
• Put a price on your time. Refuse to do any tasks of less value unless it is for fun.
• Learn to delegate. Remember you are vulnerable to stress and disease and you are not indispensable.
• Laugh. This can change your emotions, your biochemistry and your brain.
• Smile. Carry with you the intention to brighter the lives of everyone you touch.
• Know why you are on the planet. Be able to state your purpose in your sleep.
• Make at least one or two goals everyday and focus on what is most important without distraction.
• Leave your inbox alone. It has more to do with other people than with you. Work on what is important.
• Plan your day with happiness in mind. Remember Happiness is the prize.
• Establish control over your physiology in response to any situation by instituting the practice of Instant Relaxation.
• Practice instant relaxation all day long. This is how you trim the tension away. First tense all your muscles and take a deep breath. Then relax your scalp face neck, jaws, abdomen and legs. Breathe deeply and evenly for as long as you can. Feel your arms and legs become heavy and warm.