1. Stop what you're doing when you realize you're feeling stressed. Pay attention to what's going on in your body. Breathe deeply into your belly for two minutes, or until you feel calmer and more centered. Then you'll be able to manage whatever needs your attention more effectively.

2. Ask yourself what you're feeling. Angry, sad, lonely, scared, disappointed, apprehensive? Find a safe person in whom you can confide your feelings.

3. Do something physical every day - walk, swim, stretch, yoga, work out, dance, play tennis or some other sport. Just get out of your head and into your body.

4. Plan each day to include at least 3 bright spots! No exceptions - if the day looks like a really demanding one, you'll need even more. Design your own, nobody else's will do. Don't leave this to chance - it has to be built in!

5. Finish It - Having unfinished business in your life could be causing you more stress than you realize. Maybe you have a tendency to start projects and not finish them. Take the time to tie up those loose ends in your life. When you are working with a clean slate, you will feel more focused.

6. Pardon Me - Everyone does things they regret. You may have lashed out angrily at a co-worker or friend when they really did not deserve that reaction. Now every time you think about the confrontation, your stress level and feelings of guilt double. The best way to take care of this guilt is to face up to your error and apologize. You will immediately feel peace once you attempt to resolve the situation that has left you frustrated.

7. Discuss Problems - You may prefer to avoid conflicts. Yet sometimes openly discussing a situation is the best way to get rid of tension. It's better and easier to address little annoyances before they build up into big resentments.

8. Work on Your People Skills - We could all use some improvement in this area. Researchers found that people overwhelmingly prefer to work with likeable, less-skilled co-workers.

9. Be a Team Player - Show that you're a team player by making your team look good. Make decisions that demonstrate you have the best interests of your team and the organization in mind.

10. Be Discreet - Be careful what you say, where you say it and to whom. Don't tell off-color jokes, reveal company secrets, gossip about co-workers or espouse your views on race, religion or your boss' personality. Remember, anything that can be perceived as sexual or violent can get you in hot water in today's workplace.

Source: 1 through 4 are from a workshop given by Barbara Bailey Reinhold based on her book, Toxic Work: How to Overcome Stress, Overload & Burnout and Revitalize Your Career


Solutions EAP at 1-800-526-3485 and on-line at www.solutions-eap.com