Stress?

Q: How can I relieve stress? I have so many things to do and not enough time to do them!

I think we have all had a cluttered mind at one time or another.  I think its important to live a clutter free life and mind.  Is your house cluttered?  Simplify.  For me this means once a year I donate used items and de-clutter the house.  This can also make shopping a mindful experience.  I can think to myself, “Do I really need this or do I just want it.” Can I see myself using it in the future? or will it just make the ‘junk pile’ in a year.  This means all areas of ones life: the car, the house, the purse or wallet, and the workplace.

Keep a to-do list and choose your 6 most important things to complete each day.  If you finish all six then you can always advance to more.  If you have such a list put it away at least 30 minutes before bed.  Allow the items to just 'be' and realize you can always start them again tomorrow. To start winding down for bed, try dimming the lights and lowering noise volumes about an hour before bedtime.  Try reading before bedtime or some pranayama breathing.  For example, try equal breathing while lying down on your back with your eyes closed.  If it feels natural, allow your right hand to rest on your heart, and your left hand on your abdomen.  As you inhale count to 5 and exhale count to five; concentrating on making each breath easy, smooth, and equal.  You may find that this may be difficult at first, just keep practicing and remind yourself that with each breath you are releasing negative and gaining peacefulness.