Want an easy way to de-stress?

"It's possible for a person to have an overwhelming number of things to do and still function productively with a clear head and a positive sense of relaxed control, " says David Allen in his book, Getting things done: The art of stress-free productivity.

Now that is a bold statement!

Who hasn't felt anxious when things—at work, at home or both—seem to be getting out of control?

Several things can contribute to that feeling of being overwhelmed, he says. Having new demands placed on you without sufficient resources and blurring the line between home and work are just two of them. A constantly changing world is another. So how do you deal with it? How do you get off the hamster wheel?

First of all, says Allen, understand that most of the stress you feel doesn't necessarily come from knowing that there is a lot to do. It probably comes from not having a good handle on exactly what all those things are.

Here are the basic tools he suggests you use to start managing your commitments.

First, remember that you are trying to achieve "a clear head and a positive sense of relaxed control." If something is on your mind, your head isn't clear. If it's unfinished business, you have to capture it in what Allen calls a "collection bucket," a trusted system outside of your mind. (Here's a hint: Write it down!)

So, now, you've got what amounts to a to-do list. Don't stop there! Now, you have to determine exactly what you need to do—the very next physical action you need to take— to move it forward. Here is an example. Your to-do list might state "Get the car's brakes checked." Your list, however, says "Get the car's brakes checked: Call Fred at 613-5555-9999 to make an appointment." Now you see that this next step is actually a 30-second task where as if you have "get the car fixed" on your mind, it can weight heavily and prevent your mind from moving on.

Once you've determined your next step, you must keep reminders of those obligations in a place where you can review them regularly. Whether you write them down on a desk calendar or use sophisticated software, if they are written down and your brain is convinced they won't get lost, your mind can move onto other things.

This will not only give you a calming sense of control, but it might also result in some good, old-fashioned peace of mind.

[This article was originally written by Adams Jette for the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy newsletter Bulletin. Reprinted with permission.]