--- title: What Are the 3 Steps to Becoming Stress-Proof? description: 1) Know What Really Works Most of the things you instinctively do to relieve stress don’t work. Via The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why... canonical: https://time.com/3528672/become-stress-proof/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-10-22T04:01:54.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-31T07:58:35.374Z article:section: Ideas og:title: What Are the 3 Steps to Becoming Stress-Proof? og:description: 1) Know What Really Works Most of the things you instinctively do to relieve stress don’t work. Via The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why... og:url: https://time.com/3528672/become-stress-proof/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte81293404ea32b21/698762073c1639b49144f300/balloon-nails.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3865 og:image:height: 2174 og:image:alt: Pink balloon between two sets of nails og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What Are the 3 Steps to Becoming Stress-Proof? twitter:description: 1) Know What Really Works Most of the things you instinctively do to relieve stress don’t work. Via The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte81293404ea32b21/698762073c1639b49144f300/balloon-nails.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What Are the 3 Steps to Becoming Stress-Proof? > Sponsored content. 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Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Oct 22, 2014 4:01 AM UTC  Pink balloon is stuck between two sets of nails Pink balloon is stuck between two sets of nails Getty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Oct 22, 2014 4:01 AM UTC **1) Know What Really Works** Most of the things you instinctively do to relieve stress don’t work. Via [The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1583334386/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- So what does work? --- > “” --- **2) It’s All About A Feeling Of Control** As is often said, stress isn’t about what happens to you, it’s how you react to it. This is true. We’re not as stressed when we feel in control. Again, the emphasis is on _feel_. Even illusory feelings of control can eliminate stress. (This is the secret to why idiots and crazy people may feel far less stress than those who see a situation clearly.) Anything that increases your _perception of control_ over a situation — whether it actually increases your control or not — can substantially decrease your stress level. Via [Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061771295/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061771295&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Why do people choose to become entrepreneurs when working for yourself often means more hours for less money? Control: --- > “” --- Do things that increase your control of a situation ahead of time. 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) 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). 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). **3) You Need** **_Some_** **Stress To Be Your Best.** Heavy time pressure stresses you out and [kills creativity](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-you-more-creative-when-theres-a-deadline). On the other hand, having no deadlines is not optimal either. Low-to-moderate time pressure produces the best results. Via [The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/142219857X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- In his book [The Art of Learning](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743277465/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743277465&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20), Josh Waitzkin discusses one of the key elements that pro athletes like Jordan use to perform at their peak: **spontaneous relaxation.** --- > “” --- They’re not Zen masters who experience no stress. Far from it. But they’ve taught themselves to turn it on and off. The pros are able to fully relax during the briefest periods of rest. This prevents them from burning out during hours of play. Via [The Art of Learning](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743277465/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0743277465&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **One Last Thing:** _I’m stressed RIGHT NOW!!! What’s the quickest, easiest thing to do?!?!?!_ Watching a video of a cute animal can reduce heart rate and blood pressure in under a minute. Via Richard Wiseman’s excellent book [59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a Minute](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307474860/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Here you go: **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/3-steps-stress-proof/)**_._** **Join 25K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD). Related posts: [During what average daily activity are you most likely to be full of potential creativity?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/03/during-what-average-daily-activity-are-you-mo/) [5 reasons why humor is more powerful than you would ever guess](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/5-reasons-why-humor-is-more-powerful-than-you/) [Why do life-threatening situations make some people more calm?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/life-threatening-situations-people-calm/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3528672/become-stress-proof/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3528672/become-stress-proof/"},"headline":"What Are the 3 Steps to Becoming Stress-Proof?","datePublished":"2014-10-22T04:01:54.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T07:58:35.374Z","description":"1) Know What Really Works Most of the things you instinctively do to relieve stress don’t work. 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