Stress is inevitable, but what we do with it is up to us. Here are 8 more tools for your toolkit!

1. Accupressure: Yes, I love this one and will mention it often. There is an important accupressure spot between the thumb and the pointer finger I have heard called “The Big Kahuna” or “Union Valley Point”. It helps ground nervous energy and can relieve headaches and neck pain (note: this should NOT be used when pregnant). With your index finger and thumb, apply firm pressure to the webbing between the thumb and index finger of your other hand. Massage the pressure point for four to five seconds, taking slow, deep breaths.

2. Breathwork: Bring your awareness to your breath. Take a long inhalation, focusing on inflating your lower belly like a balloon, until your chest begins to expand as well. Set an intention to allow peaceful energy to enter your body with each inhale. Exhale also begins with the lower belly, allowing the breath to be gently guided from the body, as the abdomen deflates. The intention of the exhale is to release stress. It can be helpful to internally recite the words Peace during the inhale and Release during the exhale.

3. Affirmations: Ideas create thoughts and thoughts create actions. Thereby, repeating your intention to let go of the stress is helpful. In addition, talk yourself through the blueprint of what you’d like to see in its place. For example, before an important presentation, verbalize something like, “What I have to say is interesting, valid and important. I am confident I can convey my thoughts clearly. I know my audience wants me to succeed.“ Say this your own voice, but in the tone of your best friend, or mentor. You can say this to yourself out loud, in your head, or write it on a note you stick on your mirror, or keep your planner, or whatever private place that you’ll come across it most often.

4. Visualizations: When in a stressful situation, take some time to imagine yourself victorious on the other side of it. Add as much detail to the imagery as possible. How do you look? Relieved? Happy? How are you feeling? Excited? Relaxed? Are you with anyone, or alone? Have any of your beliefs about the stress changed now that it’s over?

5. Perspective: We are both the most important entity of our universe, and also but a tiny speck in the infinite expanse of the universe. It’s important to validate the your pain, but also incredibly helpful to attempt to imagine our place in the vastness of time and space. When overwhelmed with the minutea of daily life, or even high ticket stressors like health, family, finances, let your mind literally go into outer-space. Try and wrap your mind around the fact that there are more planets in our galaxy than we can count, that our galaxy is one of a seemingly endless number of other galaxies, and that all those galaxies include an unfathomable number of planets, suns and moons. Once you’ve blown your mind just enough, bring that expansiveness back to your overflowing inbox, or Power Point deadline. Usually, it will feel trivial enough for it to lose at least some of its heaviest gravitas.

6. Smile Mediation: In Being Peace, Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hahn outlines the benefits of smiling while meditating. It’s akin to the complementary principle he describes of expressing gratitude to the universe for its abundance, rather than beseeching in prayer for what you lack. During smile mediation, you are acting “as-if”. You are smiling until you feel the warmth of joy radiating from the outside inward. You are now smiling for the ease of the relaxed facial muscles, perhaps for the foolishness of fact that you let X ruin your day. Finally, the happiness will emerge out of the empowering realization that it was only you yourself, who had been standing in the way of your joy all this time.

7. Reevaluate: One my first supervisors introduced me to the phrase, “work smarter, not harder.” I hated him (only partially). I admired his thoughtful deliberateness, but disliked the contrast it cast on my impulsive, stress-filled reactivity. I realize now that I was martyring my sanity to policies and procedures, that were ill-suited to the particular challenges of our workplace. Sometimes, you need to step back and evaluate if you are chasing an impossible dream for the sake of the drama. Can you see the stress points where changes need to be made? Are you able to judge where perhaps blind adherence to outdated techniques might be undermining your success? If so; brainstorm, delegate, redesign and revaluate.

8. Nourish Your Body: Studies have shown that subjects retain more information after a rest period. Creativity is said to be boosted after a dose of exercise. It may seem there is more to do than there is time in the day. However, think of the neglect of physical health as a hitting the fast forward button. Without proper nutrition and sleep, you are losing valuable moments from the precious time, to which you desperately cling. Fill your energy coffers with fresh veggies, whole grains and 7-8 hours of sleep a night, throw in a few bouts of aerobic exercise. If you’re feeling really ambitions, add a couple 10 minute naps to your day, but, if you’re truly sleep deprived, don’t forget to set your timer!