I find that doing something mechanical while I'm sorting out my thoughts is helpful and time saving. I'll clean off my desk, sort through and put away files I don't need and do other stuff that needs doing that I can do with my hands. Most helpful, though, is my variation of managing by walking around. I'll network with my staff or colleagues or call someone I'm working with just to maintain contact but all the while I'm mulling over whatever I'm working on in the back of my mind. For me it relieves stress while I remain productive.

Already doing #1, #3, #4, #6 - the rest look interesting, can't have a dog right now but I do like #10. #4 is the greatest point - thanks Maria! People ask me how do you find time to... (do whatever it is that I have just accomplished) ? and the answer is simple: "No TV". Now I have to cut back on Internet! G

Inviting them to a mutual industry event that they can benefit from and invite 3-5 other key people you can connect them with , I also like inviting people to charity functions around things they have common interests around.

I love the idea of devoting the first hour of the day to a specific task *before* opening email. I, too, get trapped in that email autopilot, and then the whole day is gone before I know it. I've been busy, but I haven't accomplished anything. I second yoga and meditation. It's a tiny amount of time each day, but I've taken to meditating while my coffee heats up. Finally, finding 3 things each day that you can be grateful for is a great way to focus on the positive, which relieves stress.

Great list. Thanks for your blog Keith, wonderful insights!

To post a comment on this wonderful ideas is a break to me and a way to improve this network that I'm part of.

i like the idea of making these things a ritual so it's not something that happens by accident but something that you make happen intentionally

I find that even on tough days (and today was a tough day) it is always good to count the blessings in my life. PS: Holding my baby granddaughter is a sure way to perk up my mood. Dwell on the positive.

Dog walking and Make time to pray, worship, and listen to music are my top choices (#10 and #6). Thanks to a reminder from John above, I recall regular journal entry notes being a top stress reliever for me.

I really like #10. Nope, the dog won't mind, and that's not a bad use of that time. Right now I use it to listen to audio books, but I could make a few calls or send a couple of texts. Thanks, Keith. Great roundup!

Get paper or cards, leave them out on a desk at home and write a thank you note every week (if ambitious, go for every day). I believe that if something is important to you, you must make it part of your daily routine. If it is not routine, it will not get consistently done.

As far as giving up TV, if you're in or aspiring to be in the Entertainment industry, particularly television, then it behooves you to watch TV to be up on what's being broadcast. You can't hope to have a career in the medium if you're not familiar with the programs.

I watch TV, occasionally - Glee on the DVR. More movies though. The problem is when people sit down in their chairs, alone with the tube, and then "wake up" three hours later wondering where the time went. Not good!

OR You could look at the REAL issue .... TIME for what? Can't make time .... can BUY it ... SomeTIMEs best thing is to just give up .. and see WHAT shows up. ;-0 Love your writing Keith. LL

I've been stressed lately and decided, just this past Sunday, to take steps to make this my best Christmas season ever. I refuse to let stress and busyness get in my way. Taking time out for daily quiet time and prayer (as specified in #6) is my key to hold off stress. I've neglected these past few months and am seeing the results very clearly. I wrote five specific steps I'm taking in my article found at http://ow.ly/HzjU and am hoping to have my blog audience keep me honest. I hope to reap the benefits.

All good suggestions. I watch less and less TV - I call it a creativity killer! I paint and write and find that switching from one to the other releaves stress and keeps me balanced. Any creative activity that requires concentration is good mental as well as physical therapy.

Getting to your appointments 15 minutes early is excellent for a few reasons: You eliminate the stress you might feel over potentially arriving late; you therefore drive more carefully. You give your self some buffer time if your contact forgot to inform you that they moved their office, again. You'll be more settled and ready for the appointment, than if you had just burst through the door.

Call a friend, colleague or family member that you know is struggling with something and offer your support or just an ear to listen.

I really like #3: identifying one most important task and dedicating an hour to that task. For me, dedicating at least an hour of "ME" time each day would be great. I do a lot for others and never really sit down and focus on myself. I'm going to make a strong effort towards focusing on me for at least 1 hour a day - and slowly build up to focusing on myself more.

These are all great suggestions. The one that speaks to me is to give up TV. I've been thinking about this for some time now. I will begin with limiting the amount of time I watch TV and fill that time with reading, acts of service and talking with my beautiful wife!

Identify one "most important task" each day, and then devote the first hour of the day to that task -- before checking email or doing anything else...... This is such a hard one but so important to follow through. Once I open my email, my plan goes out the window. All my emails have a sense of urgency and I go into automatic pilot and start my flight of tackling emails and the urgent tasks that I strategically planned to tackle at the start of my day get lost in the clouds. Although I accomplish a lot, there is stress in not accomplishing what was on my list for that day. I'm going to make this my goal for this week!

Networking at the gym can be difficult. Especially when you are strapped for time and simply need to have "ME" time. I find working out at home allows me to get my workout in, helps me FOCUS and then I can get emails done, etc. while I cool back down. This world is too fast paced to have to multi-task all the time. Focusing on one thing helps me reduce my stress and keep things organized so that projects get done faster overall.

I actually skip on the TV time and substitute in reading time. That hour that I could be watching from say 9-10, I read which is great because it can help me out business wise where the Amazing Race can not. Current events are great to know, however, I can go on MSN and in 5 minutes find out everything that happened last night.

I love the idea of splitting lunch hour into two! Especially since exercise is involved. Yet another activity that is vastly improved by the company of others.

Number 3 is a winner -- and I use this approach at least 3 days a week. I like variety, so the other days I start with meditation, then move to tackle my *prioritized* to-do list. I also work in 50-minute focused time slots, and use the 10 minutes in-between to check email, send quick notes, ping, etc. Knowing that I have those little opportunities throughout the day helps me to really FOCUS for each 50-minute block.

great list! Personally, I use yoga and meditation for stress release. I was surprised that I didn't see it on the list. I start my day with yoga, then take short breaks during the day to do one or two exercises each time or to meditate for a few minutes... [I'm self-employed]. I gave up TV more than a decade ago. That's one of the greatest advice I've seen in the list; and plan one activity and work on it till completion is the one that I had to learn in years... I tended to work on 1O things at a time and not finish any - yes, lots of stress. Now I plan 3 things for one day and work on one at a time and I became an "accomplisher" and the stress is 5OO% less in my life.

Hi every one It is your greatness to remember a very little man Gopal for post Keith. Excellent move towards world wide with stronger together. God bless u to grow up to zenith of heaven. Thanks again.

Some of my best ideas come from watching tv, it keeps me thinking. I have found that meditation helps me relieve stress.

These are great ideas Keith. I have a women wellness retreat and we do a lot of free outdoor activities. I have met the most incredible and smartest women hiking in the mountains than the one seating in a networking conference. I enjoy build relationships with people that like sports and have a wellness mentality. the most important thing to remember is that you have to have fun...doesnt matter what you do but please have fun! Sonia Thomas

I've found that by writing in my personal jurnal specifically when I'm stressed helps a lot. By writing I get to find answers and calm myself. I've been tempted many times to talk to other people about my stressfull problems but their ideas tended to sidetrack me. Writing in the jurnal proved a very good way to deal with problems and also I'm able to look back and see past problems and remind myself who I am and what I want.

Also about TV: I have given up on TV and instant messaging (apart from occasional facebook chat) and I don't miss it at all. Watching 1 or 2 TV Shows a day, 45 minutes each, is a lot of useless time. Christina, you can always relate by showing interest and wanting to know about the show as perceived by the other person. You don't actually need to waste your time watching the series :D

Point 8 but with a tweak: If I meet someone I know either my husband or myself would like to build a relationship with, we invite them to dinner with other mutual friends so it doesn't seem so intrusive. Dinner is on us, drinks smooth out conversation and games help to get to know each other better.

Sometimes talking about your favorite TV show is a way to relate to new people. If you are both a big fan of the same show then, BINGO you have something to talk about.

Giving up TV would be big timesaver for me, the question is what to do instead? I think you need some time to just be exposed to a constant stream of something, where you can turn off the brain... #1 is something I do for some time and I find those hours extremely productive!