Guide To The Perfect Seven Minute Work Break

Competition is rigorous in America. Whether you feel it in the office, the gym, or in class, it gets to us. Here's a guide to the perfect way to de-stress in under ten minutes.

1. Hide Your Work

minimize the screen, put your notes away, silence your phone, step away from the situation, do whatever it is you have to do get your source of stress out of your eye line. Remember, out of sight, out of mind.

2. Block Out The Roar Of The Outside World

Put in ear plugs, lock yourself in the bathroom, listen to classical music or youtube's white noise channel, any thing that removes you from the world and pulls you into your mind palace.

3. Good. Now show your anxiety who is boss.

With your eyes closed, take thirty seconds to write a list in your head of all the possible things that can go wrong and why you will fail. Now, imagine yourself burning the list. Imagine the flames and the smoke. Imagine it all falling to the ground as ash. Smash those ashes into the ground with your foot and free yourself of doubt. Yay, freedom!!!

4. Now take five deep breaths, in and out, with your eyes closed.

With each exhale, imagine that your breath is actually pushing the stress out and away from your body.

5. Now Focus On The Positives

List three good things that happened today and three things you have to look forward to. Remember, in these tough times it is the little things that get us through the day, so the fact that you put on clean underwear this morning and that you will go to sleep in a bed tonight counts for the list.

6. Now Allow Yourself To Be Distracted

Watch this video of cats in water and contemplate the musical score.... Pretty sure it's off the next Glee soundtrack.

7. Imagine Yourself At This Party

8. Visualize How You Will Celebrate Your Hard Work

9. And How Relaxed You Will Be When It Is Over

10. OK- Time To Get Back To Work

11. But Before You Do...

Close your eyes and take five more deep breaths.

12. Now Go Get 'em, Tiger!