The following 50 stress management tips are taken from "101 Stress Management Tips" a resource compiled by David Tomaselli, the creator of "Stress Management Techniques and Self Improvement – The Wholistic Development Exchange".

It is believed that some people thrive under stress, but if you’re like most people stress impacts negatively on your life by impeding your progress and thwarting your ambitions. For the small business entrepreneur and aspiring millionaire good stress management skills are essential if there is to be any hope of conquering the inevitable setbacks and surmounting the numerous obstacles that will conspire to block the path to success.

There is a reason fewer people go the route of entrepreneurship or spend their time actively chasing after million dollar dreams. Although a million dollars isn’t considered to be much money any more, earning a million dollars is still considered to be an ambitious undertaking, and most people are daunted by the thought of how difficult it would be to make a million dollars, so they don’t go out trying to make that kind of money. They might dream and wish, but they don’t make it their daily ambition because its more stress than most people can handle just trying to earn what little money they already make from their 9-5 jobs.

It is no small undertaking running your own business, trying to make money for yourself, striving for millionaire glory. And with the numbers in favor of failure, you can only help yourself by learning to control stress rather than allowing stress to control you and determine your fate. So here are the promised 50 stress management tips. For all of David Tomaselli’s 101 stress management tips, scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to his website.

50 Stress Management Tips

1. Maintain a positive attitude in life as much as possible. It is best to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. Do not look at a problem as a hindrance but rather as a challenge and opportunity to grow.
2. Say No to those that promote stress in your life. This may mean not over committing yourself or not doing things you don’t want to do just because a friend asked you.
3. Breath correctly using abdominal breathing techniques, not shallow breathing. Expand your abdomen as you breathe in through your nose, hold, and then breathe out through your mouth, and hold.
4. Stop worrying! In most cases the things you worry about have a very low likelihood of occurring and usually don’t eventuate. At worst, accept your concern as a possibility and let it go.
5. Meditate regularly. Meditation has a positive effect physically, emotionally and psychologically and can produce a state of relaxation that benefits the heart, the brain, the lungs and blood.
6. Employ progressive relaxation, systematically tensing and relaxing various groups of muscles in an orderly sequence. You will not only feel more relaxed but you will learn to recognise the onset of muscle tension due to stress.
7. Stretch regularly. Stretching loosens up stiff tense muscles and increases the flow of blood and nutrients to the cells of your body. It reduces mental and physical stress, tension, anxiety and promotes good sleep.
8. If you believe in God, then pray to God. Don’t just ask for help, talk about what happened during your day. Knowing you are not alone and that you can talk to a being that is all powerful and merciful is a great form of stress relief.
9. Delegating work allows you to manage your ever increasing workload concentrating on the most important tasks at hand. Delegation increases the responsibility and enjoyment of those under you as they take on new tasks.
10. Regular physical exercise such as going to the gym, for a run or playing a competitive sport, can become an outlet that allows you focus on an enjoyable activity while literally forgetting about the stressful events that occurred during your day.
11. Try Tai Chi. It is not just a series of physical movements which is beneficial to the body, but is also made up of meditative and deep breathing exercises which provides a calming effect and better sense of well being.
12. Develop a balanced life style that focuses on all aspects of your life, including you work/studies, your family and relationships, your social life, your interests, your spiritual needs and most importantly you.
13. Manage your time carefully. List all the main tasks you need to achieve at the start of each day. Eliminate any activities that are considered wasteful and non productive. Become more efficient in the regular tasks you attend to each day.
14. Maintain a healthy nutritious diet. Eat more fresh fruit, whole grains, vegetables, lean meat and fish, and less fat, salt, sugar and alcohol. This will enhance your immune system and keep your energy levels high.
15. Control your finances. Financial worries can add to your stress levels. In essence you must spend less and save more. Set a budget and record everything you spend. If you need help seek expert financial advice.
16. Do not take work home, unless absolutely necessary. Try to maintain a clear boundary between work and home. This gives you the opportunity to recover from the stresses of work encountered during the day, and feel more rejuvenated the following day.
17. The state of your energy body and chakras are directly related to you physical, emotional and mental state. Maintaining a healthy energy body will not only help deal with stress and many other challenges that life may bring.
18. Increase your energy levels with Yoga. Yoga is specifically designed not only to help you become strong physically but also energize your body by focusing on the ‘prana’ entering your energy centers while holding specific physical positions.
19. Smile especially when you are feeling angry or stressed. Research has shown that smiling can actually help you feel happier, lower your heart rate and produce a calmer breathing pattern.
20. Try Pilates, a non-aerobic form of exercise which improves flexibility, strength and balance requiring concentration and focus. It offers the same benefits if not more than just stretching and physical exercise alone.
21. Learn Chi Kung, a health exercise which regulates the flow of Chi through the acupuncture meridians. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, Chi Kung is excellent for quieting your mind and regulating your breathing.
22. Learn a martial art. Physically this will improve your co-ordination, flexibility, strength and general endurance. It will not only teach you concentration and focus, but more importantly you will learn how to defend yourself.
23. Get a massage. A massage can relieve muscle tension and stiffness, and improve the range of motion of your joints. Studies show a massage can reduce the heart rate, lower blood pressure and increases blood circulation, promoting relaxation.
24. Accept responsibility for where you are in your life. By adopting this attitude you no longer become a victim who has handed power over to some one else but rather an empowered individual who can solve all problems.
25. Visualize calm, especially during times of stress or intense emotions. Combined with deep breathing, this can help produce a state of calmness emotionally and psychologically.
26. Write down exactly what is bothering you. In a lot of cases, the solution to a problem that may be causing you stress can be arrived at very easily by identifying and writing the problem on paper.
27. Know your limits so you can prevent life from becoming too stressful. Don’t try to fit too much in, over commit yourself or attempt to over achieve to the point of breaking down.
28. Get sufficient rest. A major key to performing at your best and dealing with stress is being well rested both mentally and physically. Make sure you go to bed early at minimum one night per week.
29. Being low in energy can make you tired and contribute to stress. To get more energy introduce high energy foods into your diet such as bananas, pineapple, strawberries, spinach and cabbage, red meats and even high-energy smoothies.
30. Increase your iron intake. If you are low in iron, you can become mildly depressed which can definitely inhibit your ability to deal with stress. Try eating foods high in iron including lentils, spinach, tofu and lean beef, as well as iron supplements.
31. Drink ample water. On average you should be drinking eight glasses of water per day, otherwise you run the risk of becoming dehydrated which can result in feeling lethargic and low in energy, and hence more susceptible to stress.
32. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people and influences. Minimize contact with people who are generally negative or stressed. Do not listen to people who are pessimistic or overly critical of you.
33. Adopt the following as your personal philosophy: "Have the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage and resolve to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
34. Laugh away your Stress. Laughter is a good tool for managing the challenges in your life that would otherwise make you feel overwhelmed and stressed. It reduces muscular tension caused by stress and contributes to the production of endorphins, natural pain killers for your body.
35. Go for a walk. This is not only a good stress management remedy but also a great form of exercise that anyone can do. This is particularly beneficial during stressful times at work or after having had a heated debate. Make walking a regular activity in your day, either in the morning, during lunch, or in the evening.
36. Repeat a mantra, a meaningful word or phrase, through out the day and or night. Studies have shown that mantras can help you better cope with stress. Your mantra can be spiritual in nature, such as “Amen” or “Om”, or not totally unrelated to any tradition such as “Calm”.
37. A rewarding personal life can help you better deal with stress especially at work. This may mean spending ample quality time with your loved ones or regularly catching up with friends.
38. Drink herbal tea. Different herbs are known for target and support specific parts of the body including the nervous, circulatory and cardiovascular systems. It is the ideal drink for dealing with stress and other ailments including colds, flu and fatigue.
39. Listen to music (that you like). Music has an incredible ability to change your mood and relieve stress. It can not only be used to sooth, but also to “rev” your energy levels when needed.
40. Learn from the lesson. Sometime stress can be caused because of a mistake you have made or some other adverse circumstance that has occurred. Rather than brooding over it, look at the lessons that can be learnt from the experience.
41. Take regular time off or vacations. It is important to regularly take time away from the stresses in your life. Regular vacations or breaks give you that opportunity to recharge your batteries, reconnect with yourself and prevent burn out.
42. Try to keep your chin up. Especially when you feel things are at their worst, try to keep your chin up and chest out. During times of crisis, things always appear extremely hopeless. This time will pass. Things will be better tomorrow.
43. Take up gardening. Gardening not only allows you to connect to Mother Nature, but also serves as a great form of physical activity. Research has also shown that being in a garden or even just viewing can relieve stress.
44. Take a walk along the beach. Natural surroundings are known to trigger relaxation responses deep in the brain. The beach in particular with its fresh air and rhythmic rolling in of waves can have a calming effect on you.
45. Talk to friends and family. Sometimes is helps to talk to friends and family when you are feeling stressed. While they are not professional counsellors, talking to them give you a chance to express your feelings and vent.
46. Seek professional help. If stress is just too overwhelming you may want to seek outside help from a counsellor, health professional or life coach. A professional therapist can help you rationalise and provide strategies on coping with stress.
47. Take a course. A course in stress management will teach you how to recognise the symptoms of stress and how to effectively deal with it. If poor time management is your problem a course in this area is also extremely useful.
48. Develop a hobby. Getting immersed in a hobby or interesting activity is a great form of stress relief. It allows you to forget the outside world for a while especially those things that are contributing towards your stress.
49. Read a book. Reading can be a great escape from stress because it forces you to focus on something other than your own troubles. Also research has shown that people who read have a better ability to understand how other people think and feel, and become better equipped in dealing with problems.
50. See a feel good movie. Like reading, a good movie also gives you the opportunity to focus on something other than your own worries. It is important to wisely pick a movie that is positive and makes you feel good, not one that is depressing.

David Tomaselli is the creator of Stress Management Techniques and Self Improvement – The Wholistic Development Exchange. The aim of the Wholistic Development Exchange is to empower you to deal with stress, pressure and the day to day challenges that life brings by providing you the latest Tips, Techniques, Articles, News, E-Books, Products and other Resources related to Stress Management and Self Improvement. To download free E-Books go to our Free Stress Management E-Books section. For all 101 Stress Management Tips go to Stress Management Tips.

David Tomaselli: 101 Stress Management Tips

If you want to be rich and famous, you have to focus on your strong points. Don’t dwell on your weaknesses. Choose your strongest asset and build it into a formidable asset.

After finding your heart’s desire, your bliss, dare to dream big; dream the biggest, boldest dreams that you can think of. Decide now that you want to be phenomenal in your particular talent; be the best of the best; be unforgettable. Fame doesn’t just happen. You have to want it!

Now translate your dream into two manageable plans. First, develop your talent. Second, market it. Then continue to reality-test and refine your plans. Create a feedback loop between your inner desires and imaging and the outer world of possibility, working and reshaping your talents and skills. Take action with unbending intent. Put your twofold plan into effect by doing practical things within your reach. Researched and rehearse the talents and skills that you will need to get attention. For example, subscribe to international magazines to keep abreast of your chosen profession.

In line with your goal, set about learning more routines for your talents, especially how others have created their own unique assets. Also study audience response in general. By watching movies, you can learn to see cultural patterns. For example since Americans loved drama and suspense, build the element of surprise into your performance.

After mastering your talents, develop the second pathway to success. Learn how to sell yourself, to broadcast your talents to a captive audience of agents, managers, and production owners around the world.

Throughout your journey, refused to believe in limitations. All famous people have displayed self-confidence, prior to developing their talents and connections. They have put faith before experience. And, they have taken risks, investing time, money, and energy into their projects.

In short, dream big, develop elaborate plans, and then acted boldly with unbending intent.

You can implement all the important aspects of planning your royal road to success. Here is a summary:

1. Isolate your strongest talent. Forget about your weak points. Use your precious energy to master one particular skill. Focus on your best quality and be a success at it.

2. Forget about your personal flaws. Make choices where they don’t get in the way. While it may be possible to change maladaptive conditioning, consider this as another venture. Build upon your assets. Once you have sufficiently strong assets, you can go back and take care of your liabilities.

3. Dare to dream big. Why bother with half-measures? Compromised dreams have no power to energize and excite you into action. Playing it safe is a losing proposition. Even if you never measure up to an absolute standard, you’ll be pushed much further than you would have ever dared to go.

4. Break your big plan into small, manageable parts. See the big picture, then figure out how to make it all fit together.

5. Stay in touch with the outer world. Keep abreast of the latest trends and use them in your plans. Learn only what is relevant. Avoid obsolete techniques. Keep an eye on the market. Note where it is, where it’s moving, and orient yourself accordingly.

6. Stay out of the shadows. Make some noise. Find a way to get noticed. Frank Sinatra broke into show business by standing on a table and singing. He was a waiter and he sang to a top local producer. Similarly famous singers, dancers, and actors have sent out unapologetic news bulletins to people who neither knew nor cared about him; but he eventually got them interested. Create a way to help people help you.

7. Learn about your market. Isolate your target audience. Study what interests you; make it fun, bold, and exciting.

8. Refuse to believe in limitations. Limited thoughts create limited people. “The sky,” as Wayne Dyer has correctly reminded us, “is the limit.” Napoleon Hill once said: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” When you doubt your competence and question your options, you lose vital energy. You need this energy to press on with your goals. The more original your ideas, the more critics you’ll find. Don’t add to the inertia by adding your own name to the list of critics.

9. Above all, plan, dream, and act.

10. And when you fail, learn from your mistakes, and continue.