Stress strategies

Breathe Deeply. Take a large breath through your nostrils. Press your thumb and index fingers together, hold your breath and fingers until you feel some tension, then slowly release tour fingers and breathe through your lips to drain the tension. Repeat.

Get up. Walk around for five minutes every 90 to 120 minutes - your brain can stay on the same task for only so long.

Play Ball. Anything that gets your heart's gas pedal going is good, but a team sport has the added plus of taking you outside your head.

Imagine The Worst. Rationally asking yourself "What's teh worst that can happen?" is often less stressful than the vague 'catastrophizing' (cognitive behavioral theraphy's term) we do without realizing it.