LifeStyle

1) Be early. Don't be late
Be early. If the person in the passenger seat is continuously slamming the imaginary brake on the passenger side of the car, you didn't allow enough time to relax and enjoy the ride. But being late can be very stressful. Try to leave earlier by getting ready earlier, or by scheduling more space between events. Things always take longer than you expect, so schedule some buffer time: extra time to get ready, to commute, to do errands before you need to be somewhere, to attend a meeting before another scheduled appointment. If you get somewhere early, it's good to have some reading material. Always arrive early whatever the situation or event, work or pleasure. Arrive early, and enjoy the breaks in life. Be early. Don't be late.

2) Simplify your schedule
A hectic schedule is a major cause of high stress. Simplify by reducing the number of commitments in your life to just the essential ones. Learn to say no to the rest and slowly get out of commitments that aren't beneficial to you. Get out of meetings when they aren't absolutely essential. Someone once said "Choose a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." Schedule only a few important things each day, and put space between them. Leave room for down time and fun.

3) One thing at a time
One thing at a time. This is the simplest and best way to start reducing your stress, and you can start today. Right now. Focus as much as possible on doing one thing at a time. Clear your desk of distractions. Pick something to work on. Need to write a report? Do only that. Remove distractions such as phones and email notifications while you're working on that report. If you're going to do email, do only that.

4) Stay healthy, don't get sick
Get Plenty of Rest! It's one of the first pieces of advice you get when you're sick, but we can never stress it enough: give your body time to fight off a cold, and don't waste your energy doing work or watching television. Sleep deprivation results in poorer immune function. Not only do good sleep habits help you fight off a cold, but they will even increase your resistance to catching one in the first place. The best way to prepare or prevent a cold is to start battling it right away. Wash your hands often and drink lots of fluids, and get out into the sun as often as possible. But when you do get sick, it's important to get plenty of rest but don't neglect it when you're healthy either. While it won't necessarily stop a cold from coming on after it's already started, it certainly won't hurt.

5) Do something each day to be active
Get moving. Do something each day to be active walk, hike, play a sport, go for a run, or bike. It doesn't have to be grueling to reduce stress. These simple steps can have a huge impact on your life expectancy. Go for a walk or a jog each evening, and practice stretching and some light muscle exercise at home. These exercises can be done at home for very little, meaning you've got an activity without a lot of cost, and the health benefits are enormous. Just set aside some time each day to get some exercise, and your body and wallet will thank you. Just move, and have fun doing it.

6) Develope one healthy habit this month
Other than getting active, improving your health overall will help with stress. But do it one habit at a time. Eat breakfast. Eating a healthy breakfast fills you up with energy for the day and also decreases your desire to eat a big lunch in the middle of the day. Not only that, breakfast can be very healthy, quick, and inexpensive. Eat fruits and veggies for snacks. Eat something healthy for dinner. Drink water instead of soda and alcohol.

Maintaining your health is another way to achieve happiness. Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods can have a negative effect on your mood. Additionally, exercise has been known to release endorphins that give you a feeling of happiness . Eat less meat. For the nutritional value, meat is very expensive, especially as compared to vegetables and fruits. Simply change around your regular meal proportions to include more fruits and vegetables and less meats. Eat a smaller steak and a bigger helping of green beans, for example. Not only is this a healthier way to eat, it's also less expensive too. Also quit smoking. One habit at a time.

7) Simplify your finances
Simplify your finances. Finances can be a drain on your energy and a major stressor. Automate savings and bill payments and debt payments. Find ways to have fun that don't involve spending money. The more you SAVE the happier you will be.

8) Do something calming
It could be taking a nap, or a bath, or reading. Some people like to meditate, or take a walk. Find your calming activity and try to do it each day. Go to bed early and get plenty of sleep for the next day.

9) Have fun each day...
Have fun each day, even if it's just for a few minutes. Watch/Read your favourite tv-comedy, movie, book or websites. Board games are fun. Find something to laugh at every day to give your feel-good hormones a boost.

10) One of the keys to happiness...
One of the keys to happiness is to learn to be more accepting or tolerant of others. Some people are loud, others fat, and some just plain ugly. There are few things in life we can change, and far less we have any power over. Hate is a negative energy that corrupts the body and mind. Love is a positive force that does just the opposite. Those with a positive attitude suffer less from conditions such as heart disease. And when we learn to be more tolerant or accepting, you realize that everyone is the same deep down, and that we all want the same things in life. We have to learn to treat others as we want to be treated ourselves. Showing respect to a person whatever their education or occupation. You're be much happier with the ideas of I'm OK, You're OK, and Live and Let Live, and Eat, Drink and be Happy.

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