5 Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Stress and Its Effects

We all know what it's like to get caught up in a work-frenzied cycle - the To Do list keeps growing and the clock doesn't stop ticking. My mother always used to caution me with clichés like "more haste, less speed!" and, though I never used to take heed of them, she was right. It's perfectly intuitive that we are most productive when we are rested, so why is it so hard for us to remember to give our bodies and minds a break when they need it?

One way to get around this is to schedule breaks the same way you schedule tasks. This way, if you adhere to your task schedule, essential breaks are already incorporated into it. This is particularly important if your work involves a lot of computer work - the physical stress on your eyes is very damaging if you're staring at a screen for hours on end. Sites like Lifehacker (http://www.lifehacker.com), for example, frequently review simple software that, when activated, idle on your desktop for a set amount of time before popping up a reminder to take a break. With a program like that, it'll be easier to remember to rest your eyes, stretch your legs or take a power nap - so that you can return to your work, refreshed and more productive than before.

2. Get the Big Things done first

It's always tempting to avoid the huge pink work-related elephant in the room, especially when it's a task that seems insurmountable or looks like it might take up too much time. Although you mind feel like you're still getting things done by dealing with smaller, easier worries first, the truth is that the knowledge that the Big Undone Thing is still hanging over your head can create far more stress than the smaller tasks you're dealing with. No matter how unappealing a big task may be, the best thing to do is to tackle it head on and as soon as possible - the moment you put it off once, it becomes easier and easier to continue to put it off indefinitely. The relief and sense of accomplishment you feel after finishing it will make you even more productive and less stressed when tying up smaller matters.

3. Buy a day planner

The amount of stress you experience is often inversely related to how organized your work is at any given moment. Having a bird's eye view of what needs to be done can be the most calming thing for a busy person; unnecessary stress frequently stems from the anxiety we get when confronted by a seemingly impossible series of tasks or unending amount of work. One of the best ways to deal with this is to simply get more organized, and investing in a good day planner is a great way to accomplish this.

Make sure that you find a day planner that's suited to your needs - if you prioritize bringing it everywhere with you, opt for a small, light one instead of a heavy hardcover. Moleskine notebooks (http://www.moleskine.com) are great for people who are constantly on the go - the company offers a range of notebook sizes, most of which are highly portable and all made from quality materials. On the other hand, if a large, spacious desk organizer appeals to you, then invest in a bigger book or desk calendar that allows you write more detail in it. I've found that a combination of the two often works best - have a smaller planner that you can carry around with you everywhere so you can constantly jot notes and appointments down as well as refer to them, but also have a larger calendar at home or in the office where your work life is more clearly mapped before you.

4. Water, water, water

Good nutrition, particularly water consumption, just cannot be emphasized enough when dealing with stress. When we get bogged down with work, it's easy to forget to eat proper meals - instead, we're dashing out for a cold sandwich or warming up a TV-dinner late at night because we had no time to cook. This is the worst thing to do to your body when it's stressed, because in order to cope with all the work its doing it at least needs good nutrition.

While it may be difficult to set aside enough time to cook every day, for instance, one immediate thing you can do without difficulty is to start drinking more water. Dehydration can be responsible for grogginess, lethargy and higher blood pressure (especially when eating many processed, high-salt foods). Make sure you get your eight glasses a day, and your body will be feeling refreshed and alert. One easy way to do this is to make sure you always have a water bottle with you (a half-liter or one-liter one is a good idea, that way you only have to remember to fill it up a few times a day to get your full hydration needs) or to always have a large glass of water on your desk. Make it habitual to pick up and drink. Drinking more water is also a great way to lose weight and reduce skin breakouts - both of which are often caused by high stress!

5. Don't take work home

For the body to rest, the workday has to end. If you bring work home and are surrounded by it from dawn to dusk, working until right before bed, your body never gets a respite and won't be able to rest properly. Home should be a place where you can relax and unwind! Keeping work out of the home makes you look forward to going home in the first place - if you know that your workday will end at a certain time and after that you can kick back, you're more likely to work harder toward that mental reward during the day. Also, you wouldn't want to associate home and work - every busy person needs a sanctuary they can return to and use to escape from their relentless schedule.

If you must take work home, try to confine it to a room separate from your bedroom - making a study for yourself might be a good idea. This way, even if you absolutely have to take work back with you, it is at least confined to one part of your home - you can still allow yourself to unwind in your bedroom or living room.