Stress Management - The Secret to Avoiding Stress and Preventing Anxiety

We spend loads of money on stress management books and conferences. We learn how to reduce our anxiety with yoga, meditation, soothing music and medication. But, we don't often learn how to prevent it.

When was the last time that you intentionally bought a house that was $100,000 under the amount that you were approved? Or didn't fill up your entire plate with food? Or drove 5 miles under the speed limit -- on purpose? We don't do "margins" well. We usually go right to the edge, take up all the space available, schedule every minute, and allocate every dollar.

Margins are a key component to stress prevention.

The definition of "margin" is space. White space. Something that is left un-filled. Webster's Dictionary partially defines it as "an amount allowed or available beyond what is actually necessary: to allow a margin for error."

Here are four great ways for you to start to add margin into your life, and in doing so prevent tension and anxiety from accumulating in your life:

Be content. It is a choice. Really. Contrary to popular belief, you can simply choose to be satisfied with what you have. The less you spend on things, the more you can spend getting rid of current financial obligations (yes....breathe a sigh of relief). It is not a requirement to use up all the available credit on the Visa. And in case no one ever mentioned it, you are allowed to leave some money just sitting there in your account. Not doing a thing. Not even "working for you" (and adding the constant worry of watching the stock market ticker on CNN like a cat about to pounce). Having more money does not always prevent tension, but having more financial margin almost always does.

Let work help you live your life. Does it really pay to work the extra 10 hours this week? Does work consume your life or help you live your life? Having you life in balance is essential in preventing anxiety and creating peace of mind.

Remain true to your own values. If you want to fill your life with anxiety, concerns and responsibilities that really don't belong to you, just say yes to everyone and every request that comes your way. Don't protect yourself, your time, or your values. Care more about pleasing people than about loving people (sometimes to truly love, you need to say "no"). Do this, and you will have plenty of stress to manage. Learning to say "no" will change your life.

Take things one at a time. We all go through times when everything seems to pile up all at once. The car breaks down, your kid breaks his arm, the basement floods, and then to top it all off, you lose your job. When this happens, you can choose to be overwhelmed, or you can choose (there's that word again) to take everything in chunks. Deal with just one thing for now. Dealing with things this way will definitely make your life easier and prevent stress.