Stress Less, Enjoy Life More.

It's said that music soothes the wild beast. For many of us, sometimes our headphones can also soothe the wild beast of our inner stress.

But what is that musical interlude really doing for us? It's deflecting our attention away from our stressor and shifting our attention to a more peaceful awareness that was with us all along.

This shift in attention seems to be the key ingredient of most stress reduction techniques. You can't remove most sources of stress, but you can strengthen your ability to keep your precious attention from being sucked in by them. Here's an exercise plan to develop more freedom from stress:

Fit meditation, prayer or yoga into each day

Each of these activities helps you hear the calming qualities of your own inner music.

Don't believe everything you think.

Mind chatter and negative thoughts, in response to outside stimulus, are often the chief drivers of stress. Zen teachers encourage students to separate themselves from the mind chatter and to look at your stress instead of just feeling it. You'll gain new insights.

Take breaks at work to re-set your energy

Get up, walk around, stretch, and come back a new person.

Increase exercise

With just a bit of commitment over time, exercise can help tap all kinds of new energy.

Eat better foods

Your instincts were telling you to do this anyway. You'll feel your body thanking you.

Drink water

Most of us are under-hydrated and therefore more open to stress's ravages.

Sleep more

This is another simple gift to you, all too rarely given.