--- description: Remind yourself how unimportant your worries are in the big scheme of things. Making lots of decisions can burn you out. Automate as many things... title: 12 Ways to Easily Eliminate Stress image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3537d9beb08641b6/698777df3c16395fa3450eff/chewed-pencil.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 12 Ways to Easily Eliminate Stress by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 5, 2015 5:01 AM CUT  Getty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 5, 2015 5:01 AM CUT 1. [Remind yourself](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-a-trick-for-keeping-calm-when-the-stake "undefined") how unimportant your worries are in the big scheme of things. 2. Making lots of decisions can burn you out. [Automate](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-get-more-done "undefined") as many things as you can. 3. Watching a video of a cute animal can [reduce heart rate and blood pressure in under a minute](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-quickly-relieve-stress "undefined"). 4. Ladies, drink coffee. Guys, [don’t.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-coffee-help-us-cope-with-stressful-meetin "undefined") 5. Another key element of stress is where you focus your attention. Think about [benign outcomes](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-stress-out-less-and-reduce-worrying "undefined") or [concentrate on the positive](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-you-improve-depression-and-anxiety-with-a "undefined"). 6. According to one study, the stress management technique that worked best was [deliberately planning your day so that stress is minimized.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-best-way-to-handle-stress "undefined") The trick to not worrying about work stuff while at home is to [make specific plans to address concerns before you leave the office](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-stop-worrying-about-projects-at-w "undefined"). 7. The difference between a [fun challenge and stressful work](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-this-why-we-can-do-fun-stuff-for-hours-but "undefined") is often just a [feeling of control](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-key-to-dealing-with-stress "undefined"). The best way to reduce job stress is to [get a clear idea of what is expected of you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-significantly-reduce-job-stress "undefined"). Stop working overtime; it’s [not worth it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-working-overtime-worth-it "undefined"). 8. [Art](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-art-reduce-anger-and-stress "undefined") reduces stress in men. Good music can [increase pain tolerance and decrease anxiety.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-good-music-increase-pain-tolerance-and-de "undefined")Classical music is the [most relaxing genre](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-type-of-music-is-the-most-relaxing "undefined"). 9. Booze [does reduce anxiety](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-booze-reduce-anxiety-and-fear "undefined") and [punching things](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-punching-things-make-men-feel-better "undefined") does make men feel better… which, frankly, explains a lot. 10. If you have to worry, [set aside a specific time during the day to do all your worrying](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-a-simple-trick-to-help-you-worry-less "undefined"). Before a stressful event [write all your worries down](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-reduce-worry-and-in "undefined"). 11. Understand the secrets to [willpower](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/15-research-based-secrets-to-bulletproof-will "undefined"), breaking [bad habits](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-most-effective-way-to-change-you-be "undefined"), [productivity](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/10-ways-to-turn-yourself-into-a-productivity "undefined"), beating [procrastination](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/7-steps-to-never-procrastinating-again "undefined") and achieving [goals](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/the-last-damn-thing-youll-ever-need-to-read-a "undefined"). 12. No matter what happens, [you will probably be fine](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/will-you-be-able-to-cope-when-tragedy-strikes "undefined"). _Still_ stressed? Here are 15 more: 1. [Talk](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-quickly-and-easily-increase-confi "undefined") to yourself. 2. [Lean back](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-make-any-task-seem "undefined") instead of leaning forward. 3. Have more [sex](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-sex-improve-your-ability-to-deal-with-str "undefined"). 4. [Watch](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/an-easy-way-to-reduce-stress-and-pain "undefined") [comedy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-comedy-better-than-vitamins "undefined"). 5. Spend more time [with friends](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-your-social-life-make-you-mentally-an "undefined"). 6. Be [compassionate](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-reduce-stress "undefined"). 7. Take [fish oil](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-a-safe-over-the-counter-way-to-treat "undefined"). 8. Stand up [straight](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-a-quick-and-easy-way-to-make-yourself-t "undefined"). 9. [Meditate](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-increase-your-attention-span-in-a "undefined"). 10. [Garden](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-gardening-reduce-stress "undefined"). 11. Chew [gum](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/a-quick-and-easy-way-to-relieve-stress "undefined"). 12. Smell [vanilla](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-reduce-anxiety "undefined"). 13. [Nap](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-purge-negative-emotions "undefined"). 14. Eat [salt](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-reduce-social-anxiety-in-the-tastiest "undefined"). 15. Spend time in [nature](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-being-near-nature-reduce-stress "undefined"). **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/12-ways-to-eliminate-stress/ "undefined")**_._** **Join over 151,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** Related posts: [6 Hostage Negotiation Techniques That Will Get You What You Want](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/hostage-negotiation/ "undefined") [How To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/ "undefined") [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") _Read next:_ [_How to Read People Like Sherlock Holmes: 4 Insights From Research_](http://time.com/3650136/how-to-read-people/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3652212/easily-eliminate-stress/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3652212/easily-eliminate-stress/"},"headline":"12 Ways to Easily Eliminate Stress","datePublished":"2015-01-05T05:01:30.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:06:44.325Z","description":"Remind yourself how unimportant your worries are in the big scheme of things. 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