Managing a blog and a personal life, other work commitments or perhaps going to school, can be somewhat of a challenge. Although most of us strive under a bit of deadline pressure, it’s the paralyzing and brain-freezing stress that we want to avoid. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to manage those rising stress levels. Here’s how to keep control over your daily tasks:

9 TIPS TO DEAL WITH STRESS
1. Distinguish the ‘must do’s’ and the ‘should do’s’
Clearly analyze your time schedule, responsibilities, and daily to do list. If you feel like you’ve got too much going on, make a difference between things you “should do” and things you “must do.” Move anything that isn’t absolutely essential to the bottom of your list, or let go of that completely.

2. Look at the big picture
I often ask myself: ‘will this matter in a week, a month and a year from now?’ If the answer is no, it isn’t worth stressing out over and giving energy to in this moment. With so many e-mails coming in daily, it can feel like everyone wants something from us - and they always want it right now. Is what people are asking you to do realistic, and is it really important, enriching and valuable to you and the business, blog or project you are working on?

3. Plan in relaxation-time
Plan a specific time to relax and stick to it. Step away from your computer screen for at least thirty straight minutes per day and take that time to do absolutely nothing. Make yourself a hot bath, take a power nap or cuddle up on the couch with some green tea.

4. Focus on your breath
We often breathe very short and shallow. At the rise of sounding a bit spiritual: take a few minutes to focus on deep breaths, all the way from the bottom of your belly. You’ll find your head clearing and your body will be less tense.

5.Take control of your surroundings
Try to take ownership of why you feel stressed. If a situation is hard to change, at least make your surroundings as stress free as possible. Feeling nervous while stuck in traffic? Use a different route or time to travel to appointments. Are you easily distracted? Don’t work in a cluttered room without daylight. Feeling stressed because of all the mixed messages you’re constantly processing? Switch your television and phone off while you work, and don’t surf to Facebook, Bloglovin and Gmail for an hour straight.

6. Eat, sleep, exercise
For me, the most difficult thing is taking good care of myself when I’m busy. Those thirty minutes to cook and that other hour to work out seem like a huge burden. But exercise, food and sleep are key players in keeping a focussed mind. Sleeping regularly, staying away from sugar, nicotine and coffee and working out will releave some of the physical tension. On the rare few occasions that I do go to yoga, I notice that it feels great to make my body tired rather than my head.

7. Learn to say no
Taking on more tasks than you can possibly handle is a guaranteed recipe for stress. Know that it is OK to say no sometimes. And you won’t please anyone with a mediocre result! So if you’re already in over your head, focus on your current projects first and finish those with perfection before taking on something new.

8. Share your experience others
Spend time with positive people and tell them what’s bothering you. A strong support system and sweet, positive affirmations help you boost your confidence. Simply expressing what’s on your mind, and connecting with others that might go through the same thing - like lack of time to answer e-mails, frustration of taking blog photos when it’s cold, not being able to tweak your website design the way you like it, etc - helps relieve some of the emotional strain.

9. Have a sense of humor
Try to approach issues and stress with a bit of light heartedness and humor. Nothing gets better by overanalyzing what went wrong, and know that this too will pass! And if all else fails: there is always chocolate.

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