Often we are confronted with too many choices, too many things we have to do, and we feel overwhelmed. It can happen at work, when we get a ton of work dumped on us, or at home, juggling demands from spouses and kids.

We feel anxious, stressed, wondering if we are doing the right thing, doing what we should do. What happens if things go south? In such situations, it’s important to remember that all decisions are provisional. Whether we go with our head or go with our gut, we are making the best decision possible at the time. Most failure with decision making is a failure to follow through, to do what has to be done after you make the decision to make it work out.

With that in mind, here are a few strategies to keep yourself from melting down when things begin to get stressful.

1. Breathe
Take long, slow, deep breaths. There is a well known technique that many people in all types of jobs use to help calm them. Breathe in for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of four, and then breathe out for a four count, and hold for a count of four. Repeat the sequence several times.

2. Write down your thoughts and feelings
When we are stressed and anxious, our thoughts are often confused and our emotions slide all over the place. Writing them down will help you to get a handle on them. It will enable you to see them with a little more objectivity, and consider them from a different vantage point.

Your writing doesn’t have to be polished or even organized. The important thing is to get your thoughts and feelings on paper.

3. Set priorities
Make a list, with the most important and urgent task first, and prioritize things from there. It will help you see clearly what you need to do now, and what can wait. It’s a simple thing to do, but how often do you actually do it? Then, tackle each task one at a time, secure in the knowledge that you are getting the important things out of the way first.

4. Keep going
When stressed, we sometimes are overcome with paralysis by analysis. The important thing is to just make a decision and then keep going.

5. Get goofy
When stressed, we are in an agitated state of mind, focused on just ourselves. It’s important to break that mindset. Doing something ridiculous or goofy can help to break the ice and get us out of ourselves for a moment. Do a dance, do a handstand, make bird calls, anything to bring you back to Earth.

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