Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
The Little Things Count
21. Pack your (or your kids') lunch for tomorrow, lay out your clothes, check your briefcase, and make sure the kids' school stuff is by the front door. The health benefits are clear: This will avoid the spike in stress hormones the following morning that comes from rushing around like a stockbroker on Black Monday while simultaneously screaming at your kids, ripping your pantyhose, and spilling juice on your silk shirt.22. Once a week, hold a "chore free" night. Order in pizza and eat on paper plates, leave any dishes unwashed, forget the laundry, don't even wipe the counters. Tell the kids they're on their own for homework, arrange rides for them to soccer practice or piano. This is your night to be as lazy (or productive in other ways) as you like. Maybe you have a hobby like painting, woodworking, or scrapbooking that you never seem to have the time to get to. This is your night for you. Don't let anything -- especially your own guilt -- get in the way of this evening. If your life is just too crazy to pull it off once a week, make it every other week, or once a month. But make it sometime.
23. Have a cooking fest. Tonight you're going to cook meals for the next two weeks to stock your freezer. Try easy-to-double recipes like lasagna, meatballs (make 'em with turkey to reduce the heart-clogging saturated fat), lentil soup, roast chicken, and eggplant casserole.
24. Change into nightclothes and slippers early in the evening. Even before dinner. It will help separate the "daytime you" from the "evening you," and be a constant reminder throughout the evening to relax and unwind.
25. Write a "done" list. This is a list of everything you've accomplished today. It's guaranteed to give you a sense of accomplishment and take some of the stress you feel about your to-do list off your shoulders.
26. Clean out one cupboard or closet in your house. This chore takes no more than 30 minutes, and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment at day's end, yet without any added stress because the task is simple and unchallenging, yet satisfying.
27. Do your weekend shopping and chores. Why buy your groceries or buy clothes when everyone else is doing it? Make Saturday a fun day, not an errand and shopping day. Stores are much emptier and shopping less stressful on weekday evenings.
9 Medical Myths Busted
Video: How to Eat Healthy While Traveling
10 Great Gift Book Ideas
How to Cope With a Depressed Spouse
Joke: I was leading a tour through Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico…
Advertisement 
