7 Tips for Handling Stress in Challenging Times by Robin Sharma 1. Reframe the negative as positive.

Stress is essentially a matter of perception. While giving a presentation to a group of 100 prospects might strike fear in the heart of one sales professional, it will be viewed as a superb business opportunity to another. When a stressor appears, ask yourself: is there a better way of interpreting this situation! or will this really matter " years from now! Remember, all setbacks offer growth lessons and all failure is essential to success. 2. Continuously grow. #he best way to manage change is to keep on growing. #he pace of change in our world will only increase so accept and embrace it. $ake the decision to become a change master and begin to see yourself as a lifelong student. Read for "0 minutes a day, go to training seminars and listen to educational and motivational audio in your car. %y e&panding your own professional knowledge base you will not only thrive on the change that you will inevitably face, you will be in a position to add greater value to your organi'ation. 3. Fo us on the worthy. With all the demands on your time, you simply cannot do everything. (r as )onfucius noted so many years ago: #he man who chases two rabbits catches neither. *eak performers have a clear sense of the activities that are worthy of their time and those that contribute little to their professional and personal missions. +ocusing on the worthy is the golden key to time management and life fulfilment. ,s management guru *eter -rucker observed: #here is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. !. "lan your time. .f you don/t make the time to schedule your priorities in your daily planner, someone else/s priorities will get scheduled into your daily planner. Set aside "0 minutes every Sunday night for your weekly planning session and ask yourself this very powerful 0uestion: What goals do . need to accomplish in the ne&t 1 days for me to feel this week was a success! 2ote these small but essential goals down and schedule a time for their achievement into your daily organi'er. .f you don/t act on life, life will act on you. 3et control of your time and make your weeks count. #. $or% smarter& not harder. #ear yourself away from the outdated mindset that says to be more productive, you must work harder. .n these pressure filled times, that/s a recipe for disaster. ,dopt a new, more enlightened way to manage yourself and understand that the key to increased effectiveness is to work smarter. Stop focusing on the time spent behind your office desk and, instead, begin concentrating on getting results. '. (anage your environment. We live in an increasingly negative world. #o master stress and maintain high levels of enthusiasm, meticulously guard they information you e&pose yourself to. Ruthlessly assess the nature of your environment to ensure that you are surrounding yourself with the best influences available. ,ssociate with positive people. $ake your office an oasis of e&cellence and

inspiration. $ake your car a mobile learning centre through audio and energi'ing messages. ,void anything that detracts from the clear, focused mindset you know will lead you to success. ,s 3andhi said: . will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet. 7. (a%e time for yourself. 4ave the wisdom to understand that success on the outside truly begins within. )arve out time every week to commune with nature or listen to beautiful music or get a rela&ing massage. -iscover the renewing power of visuali'ation and meditation and ensure that you find a few minutes during your busy week to en5oy a little silence. #ime invested in revitali'ing your self is never a waste of time. %egin to manage yourself better. 3et to know yourself and craft a serious action plan for personal development. 6ou will 0uickly meet with higher levels of success and feel far less stress. ,s )hurchill said: #he price of greatness is responsibility. Robin Sharma