We are all seeking to get rid of stress in our lives. I know I am! I wanted to share with you 7 things you can start doing today to lessen your stress level.

1. Make a check-up doctor’s appointment

Part of doctor visit stress is about “what are they going to say is wrong with me?” To minimize this perpetual stress, make an appointment, go, make sure everything is on track (and learn what you should be doing to get everything on track) and be thankful you don’t have to do it again for a year. No more stressful anticipation! Additionally, keeping your body healthy will help you handle daily stress better.

2. Get rid of clutter at its point of entry

Never put mail down. Open envelopes immediately, make a bills pile, a pile for future reference, and recycle the rest. I like Tanna from Complete Organizing Solutions’ suggestion about how to handle magazines! Skim, tear out the articles to read later, place them in a sheet protector in a binder, and recycle the rest. Be sure to read more about her living-paperless-solutions on her blog!

3. Get rid of digital clutter at its point of entry

Delete the shots you will never use before  you upload. Create and label a new digital folder to organize your new photos and designate in your paper planner a time to sort them, trash some, name the rest, and order them. Don’t for get to put them in your bound album!

4. Put it back where you found it

Toddlers and husbands, and wives sometimes too, love to take something, use it, and drop it. Wherever it happens to land is where it will live. The solution: do a 10 minute sweep at the end of the day to replace all that is out of place, or simply put it back where you found it after you use it.

5. Get rid of mental clutter–write it down

Have a paper and pencil everywhere you are: at the office, in the kitchen, in the bedside table, in the bathroom, in your purse/diaper bag, and in the car. (I recommend a mechanical pencil, because my pens have “frozen” in the winter time and that is no good for jotting down that last shopping list item.)

6. Decide to love and forgive

Sometimes to get rid of emotional stress, you have to decide to let it go. The choice is not always easy. But by putting yourself first, you can decide to control your burden instead of letting your burden control you.

7. Take a moment to pause

Stop and smell the roses. Take a moment, stop, take a slow breath, and think about one thing you are thankful for. A bit of perspective can lighten the burden sometimes.

I still have a long way to go when it comes to managing stress in a constructive manner, but I am working on it daily. I know that my body, my heart, my family, and especially my happiness depend upon a positive, relaxed attitude. Wish me luck!

What do you do to de-stress? Leave a comment here and share your tips and tricks with other readers! Happy Organizing!