Empathize. Define. Ideate. Prototype. Test.

Through DSEL and Consumer Behavior design sprints, I have achieved a basic understanding of the design thinking process:

• Empathize
• Define
• Ideate
• Prototype
• Test

These five steps have been the foundation to several projects throughout this semester. By working through this model repeatedly, I learned several things that I would not have otherwise. First, I learned that there is no "right" way of doing things. When working in groups, I used to get frustrated when others didn't think or tackle problems in the same way that I did. In my mind, "it was my way or the highway." Using this method, I often go stuck pursuing illusory solutions. Because this model encourages students to re-ideate and pivot, it is easy to avoid the "wrong" answers and stumble onto brilliant ones. In a way, the process helps students discover what they don't know that they don't know.

The second piece I learned from using the design thinking process is to build empathy for your user. Having empathy for others is a strength of mine, and it was exciting to apply this quality to a tangible product or service. In our final assignment, it was relatively easy to build empathy for our users because we were so similar in regards to age and lifestyle. Our group pushed the boundaries of the empathy piece by researching students with food insecurity, and also international students. We discovered that 1 in 10 Americans suffering from food insecurity is a college student. From interacting with two group members from outside the US, we gained an understanding of the communication barrier. Imagine having to translate each ingredient of a recipe while cooking!

In conclusion, this course has made me a more flexible and empathetic group member. I am excited to bring these qualities with me into future group work situations. Thank you for an excellent year!

Feng Shui [ fung • shway ]

In Chinese thought, feng shui is "a system of laws considered to govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi), and whose favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into account when sitting and designing buildings." (Google Search) The concept of feng shui entered my mind while exploring JABS last week. The effective use of space, and flow of people through it, is a central idea in both the JABS assignment and the tradition of feng shui. As I conducted research on feng shui, I began to notice that the rules of feng shui are not dissimilar to environmental nudges utilized throughout JABS, and explained in "Nudge."

Learn 50 tips to make your classroom more "qi" here.

Last week in class we also had an enlightening class discussion about what makes a perfect personal study space. The were dichotomies between students who preferred familiar versus unfamiliar spaces, loud and busy versus quiet and empty places, and several other factors. Although, in my mind, there is no "right" answer to the question of a perfect study space, feng shui tradition presents us with an interesting spacial solution. Below is an image of a desk arranged in feng shui fashion, accompanied with a bagua map to explain the purpose of each color coded section.

According to the feng shui bagua map, each part of your working place corresponds to a different aspect of life. The characteristics and elements of each life aspect are outlined below. By properly harmonizing each of the bagua areas on your desk (or within your home), you will be harmonizing each area of your life. 

1. ABUNDANCE & PROSPERITY - "The back left corner of the desk represents prosperity. Target this space to attract money and abundance. It's a great place for a plant, but if your green thumb is more on the brown side, consider placing a valuable item in this corner. This could also be a good spot for a well-functioning computer."

2. FAME & REPUTATION - "Want more than 15 minutes in the spotlight? In the center back of the bagua map, you'll find the space for fame. Place business cards or a nameplate here. Cerrano also recommends motivational images that highlight who you are and your accomplishments (think your hard-earned diploma)."

3. LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS - "To find a little love today (or in the future), focus on the back right corner. Single? A fresh flower, which can bring luck and maybe even spark romance, goes here. Already have a special someone? Place a photo of the two of you here."

4. FAMILY & COMMUNITY - "Although it is a cliche desktop feature, a family photo, according to feng shui principles, fits well on the left center of the desk. A wood frame enhances the energy of this particular space."

5. MIND, BODY & SPIRIT - "Although a sitting desk doesn't do much for your health, there are a few ways to promote health even while working. Keep the center area of the desktop free of clutter to attract good energy to the area. In addition, Cerrano recommends taking short breaks throughout the day to reduce stress and maintain focus."

6. CREATIVITY & CHILDREN - "Boost creativity by adding inspiration to the right center of the grid. Aspiring writers place a journal or book here. A blank sketchbook would be idea for artists, while a metal object may work well for others. But really anything goes here - just be creative!"

7. WISDOM & SELF-AWARENESS - "Struggling to learn new material, or just want to be wise beyond your years? Focus on the front left corner of the desk. Place a reference book (or maybe a picture of Albert Einstein) here."

8. CAREER & LIFE PURPOSE - "Front and center is the career space - definitely appropriate for a desk. Keep this spot free of clutter. Cerrano suggests displaying affirmations or motivational quotes around the office; this would be a great place to stick one of those."

9. HELPFUL PEOPLE & TRAVEL - "If you are in need of a little help from your friends, focus on the front right section. This is a good spot to put a phone or an address book (do people use those anymore?). This area also represents travel, so a travel guide or a photo of a dream vacation locale would work well here." (Feng Shui: The Ultimate Guide for Designing your Desk for Success)

My (extremely broad) takeaway here? Keep your eyes on the prize, whatever that may be to you, and use environmental nudges to help you achieve your goals. Has anyone had positive or negative experiences using feng shui? I would love to hear about them...

401 "C"

Start Saving for Your Future in College

According to one Wells Fargo study 37% of people expected to work until they die. Quality 401 k plans are designed to allow individuals to enjoy a comfortable retirement. However, not all 401 k plans are equal, and it takes a certain level of understanding to make an optimal decision to choose the most beneficial plan. 

The average college student in America (according to a 2015 study) graduates college with approximately $28,950 of debt per borrower. Although many college students are educated about the importance of managing finances and the alternatives available, many still graduate with financial woes.

In Consumer Behavior class this morning, our group was tasked with coming up with a innovative way for college students to save money while in college. Our solution was the 401 "C." According to our plan, instead of receiving credit cards from banks during Cat Fest freshman year, students would receive special savings accounts. These accounts could be physical, or digital (through a financial institution). Students would be motivated to deposit money into these accounts through a contest. At the end of four years (or until graduation) the student with the highest amount of money saved into this special account would receive a 100% match deposited into their account. The catch: once students deposited into this account, funds could not be removed prior to graduation. 

One potential problem to this solution is the ability of some students to make deposits donated from relatives. To discourage this hack, student ID numbers would be required to access accounts. Our solution is not flawless, but this positive financial incentive would pose significant reduction in stress upon graduation, if students followed the plan. 

Would you participate in this college savings plan?

Tend & Befriend

We've all heard of the "fight or flight" response to stress. Recently, researchers have discovered another paradigm called tend or befriend. This response is most often attributed to women. This paradigm is just now surfacing because the initial studies on stress were conducted on men. The tend or befriend model was developed in part by Los Angeles psychologist Shelley Taylor.



According to the "tend and befriend" theory, when placed in threatening situations individuals will protect offspring (tend) and seek out a social group for mutual defense (befriend).

When our group was developing target audience profile for our content marketing project last week, the wants and needs of our target included fitting in, and social acceptance. Although we identified this desire, we did not ask ourselves "why" this social desire existed. 

Why do we really want to "be cool" and "fit in"? Connection is a necessary part of a healthy human existence, but could certain social desires be a subconscious response to stress or other perceived threats?

Even Beyonce Satisfices

Beyoncé

The Best Thing I Never Had

I imagine you have never though of the rich and famous as satisfiers! Read the lyrics below and see how many concepts from The Paradox of Choice apply to Beyoncé:

(Concept: Try to satisfice more than maximize)
What goes around comes back around (hey my baby)
What goes around comes back around (hey my baby)I say what goes around comes back around (hey my baby)What goes around comes back around...


(Imagining alternatives as better than they are in reality)
There was a time
I thought, that you did everything right

No lies, no wrong
Boy I must've been out of my mind
So when I think of the time that I almost loved you
You showed your ass and I, I saw the real you


(Concept: Have an attitude of gratitude)
Thank God you blew it
I thank God I dodged the bullet
I'm so over you
So baby good lookin' out


(Concept: Make decisions non-reversible)
I wanted you bad
I'm so through with that
'Cause honestly you turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
You turned out to be the (best thing I never had)
And I'm gonna' always be the (best thing you never had)
Oh yeah, I bet it sucks to be you right now

(Okay - there is a little bit of social comparison going on here... but Beyoncé seems to be using it in a positive way. Concept: think of what makes you happy right now. Also see: schadenfreude.
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now
What goes around, comes back around
I bet it sucks to be you right now

Satisficing on Socks

The Paradox of Choice 

Why More is Less

This book provided many examples that related to everyday scenarios. The biggest thing that I learned through reading is that I am a maximizer - in nearly every aspect of life. The suggestions to overcome the paradox provided at the end of the book seem extremely relevant and practical. Here are author Barry Schwarts' suggestions outlined:

1. Choose when to choose. Make rules and pre-decide where appropriate.
2. Be a chooser, not a picker. Pickers pick from options, choosers evaluate needs.
3. Try to satisfice more than maximize.
4. Think of the cost of opportunity costs. Don't compare too many options.
5. Make decisions non-reversible. When we think there is an option to back out, it stays on our mind.
6. Have an attitude of gratitude. Make a list of 5 things you are thankful for every night.
7. Regret less.
8. Anticipate adaptation. Think of how good things are right now.
9. Control expectations.
10. Curtail social comparison. Think of what makes you happy right now.
11. Learn to love constraints. Work inside of them.

After finishing this book, I was prompted to think of ways I satisfice. Two items came to mind: ordering and socks. I see consumption as a necessity not something "to live for." When dining out, I often let either the waiter or my company order for me and I am usually completely satisfied with my meal. This is one example of satisficing.

Although I enjoy the result of clean clothes to wear during the week, doing laundry is another task I see as a necessity and do not maximize on. I satisfice while doing laundry by refusing to pair my socks. Rather than dedicate time to finding the pair to each different length/color/pattern of sock that comes out of the dryer - I choose to put all of my unpaired socks in my drawer. When getting ready, my outfit is chosen intentionally, except for socks. Rather than painstakingly deciding between the 50 pairs of socks in the drawer, I find that any two socks satisfy my need.

Stress by Clash in Subcultures

The overlap of several subcultures Jess existed in ultimately lead to stress and dishonesty in the film, Bend it Like Beckham.

Jess, the star of this film, is part of several subcultures including:
• Her orthodox Sikh family,
• Female friends that play soccer
• Several dimensions of the English culture

To Jess' distress, the cultures that she is a part of have widely different perspectives and standards. They overlap in several instances that are humorous to viewers and devastating to the teenage soccer star. One of the first instances of these cultures clashing is when Jess receives her soccer uniform. She has a scar on her leg from childhood that she has been told to hide. At first, she refuses to join the rest of her team, in her uniform but returns to practice after her coach empathizes with her. The stress Jess experiences here is distress. 

Halfway through the film, Jess is shown running (and sneaking) from practice to traditional cooking lessons with her mother, and repeat. Although she is exhausted from the workload and deception, I wold argue that this is eustress because she is making progress in both her soccer and family subcultures. It is interesting that her eustress happens at a time that her subcultures are not overlapping. 

An example of all three cultures overlapping occurs in the scene of Jess' sisters' wedding. Her teammate Jules and her mom show up at the end of the ceremony and Jess is called a lesbian by Jules' mother. It is interesting that Jess' extended family seems less taken aback by this assertion, than by Jess playing soccer. Again, as the subcultures she is a part of overlap, Jess experiences distress. 

Subcultures are difficult to avoid, and they do not always play well together. Think about some of the subcultures that you are a part of. Do they conflict? If so, is it healthy to maintain each of the subcultures in your life? Jess experiences the most positive stress when her subcultures are kept separate, but she is also lying to her parents to maintain this polarity. Is this justified?

Wine: de-stressor or wallet deflator?

Inspired by the YouTube video below, created by Dr. Brian Wansink, Director of Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab, I decided to compare proposed benefits of drinking wine.

"What we think determines what we taste."

In "Out of the Bottle: Wine Psychology (above)," subjects rated wine and meals significantly higher if served with a tablecloth or candles, suggested by a Sommelier, or labelled as "from California," among other factors. These observations are consistent with Dan Ariley's findings presented in "Predictably Irrational." The consistency in behavioral changes due to social cues and change in environment  makes me rethink the chemical influence wine has on my stress level.

Compare the video above to the video below, "Somm." This documentary, which I highly suggest watching (available on Netflix) for both educational and entertainment reasons, follows a group of soon-to-be master Sommeliers on their journey to receiving the prestigious certification.

Quotes from this video (accompanied by classical music and video clips of Italian vineyards) include:

The wine has a hint of "freshly clipped garden hose."

Not sure what exactly this is supposed to make us think before drinking wine. Wine has also been dubbed a stress reliever by the medical industry. The following quote is taken directly from an article on Medical News Today:

"Drinking two glasses of red wine can trigger the stress response that promotes numerous health benefits, according to researchers."

What do you think? Are we protecting our minds and bodies by drinking this fermented fruit juice? Or are we protecting the bank accounts of wine industry professionals?

"I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes (Fricki fricki)..."

Minute one: click and load the video below.
Minutes two through four: watch the stress busting meditation.

This video represents an emotion focused approach to stress management. Using this approach involves attempting to "manage one's emotions, e.g., by putting things in perspective, when one cannot  or chooses not to address the underlying source of the problem." (psychologytoday.com)

Another stress management technique is problem focused, which involves "attempting to tackle a problem directly at its source, such as asking one's dormitory RA for a room change to escape a bothersome roommate."

Which technique do you gravitate towards? And how does it effect your purchasing decisions (For example, do you buy a stress ball or pay for yoga classes to manage your emotions? Or would you more likely invest in a single apartment to dissolve a roommate problem altogether?)

How Stress Affects Our Purchasing Habits

As Dan Ariley informed us in Predictably Irrational, "Emotions are a part of our everyday life, and it is a good idea to learn how to overcome them when it comes to spending." Below are four instances of stress influencing purchasing decisions, and tips on how to avoid them:

1. "You are what you own." This seems to be most prevalent with our generation, and those younger than us. We are inherently concerned with self-image, and how others perceive us. So what do we do? We purchase brands that reflect our desired self-image. Unfortunately, savvy marketers are well aware of this phenomenon and in addition to creating additional stress, this habit can be extremely expensive to maintain. SOLUTION: Focus on your future goals, and savings.
2. "Wearing brand 'X' will help me fit in." Does the term "retail therapy" sound familiar? When we are feeling disconnect to our peers or life itself seems bleak, a shopping trip seems like the perfect fix (maybe I'm speaking for myself here)! While going shopping to make yourself feel better isn't a terrible idea, going shopping with high levels of stress and emotion can lead you to spend more, in the attempt to feel more accepted. This is kind of like going to the grocery store when you are hungry. SOLUTION: Do yoga, then shop for products that make YOU happy.
3. "Shopping > Boredom." This is pretty self-explanatory and leads to purchases we are soon to regret. This habit can leave you short on cash and stressing about how you are going to pay for more necessary items like groceries or gas. SOLUTION: Find FREE things to do when you are bored.
4. Shopping to solve others' problems. When a friend or family member is under considerable stress or some other negative emotional state, it is natural to want to help them get out of their funk. What better way than to buy them a treat? Although the intention here is valiant, this solution method often escalates. Eventually, we are faced with a situation we can't afford to fix. SOLUTION: Separate your emotions from the financial situation at hand.

-Namaste!

Stress Less, Sweat Less

The use of humor in advertisements and marketing communications is effective and widespread. The use of humor in ads has shown to increase consumer recall and improve perception of the brand being promoted, among other positive outcomes. This is assuming, consumers are not being offended and that the humor ties in well with the product being sold.

The following ad uses humor to capture viewers' attention, and stress (or de-stressing) to motivate purchases.

Recently, Nivea Germany released a video promoting its "Stress Protect" deodorant. In these videos, travelers are shown sitting in airports when "outrageous announcements" made over the intercom. Subjects appear stressed, and are immediately approached by security guards armed with (obviously) stress protect deodorant. Please see the video clip below for a laugh.

What do you think? Is this an effective use of humor in advertising?

Stress after college

The ZMET is an interesting and highly revealing test. Below is the photo that ended up on the top of my pile, after being asked to sort photos from least important, to most important. This photo make me feel the most at ease. Currently, school and work are stressful and making me crave the simple pleasures in life. I can only imagine that other students (most of you!) feel the same.

This photo is important to me, because it is quaint, it makes me imagine the smell of lavender, and the chairs and table imply conversation. It is interesting that this photo ended up on top, because it is undoubtedly the least stressful picture of the eight chosen to personify "life after college."

Some of the other photos I chose are below:

This photo represents the possibility of going to grad school. I like that the subject looks confident and serene.

This is Blair during a "hell of an" internship in the TV series Gossip Girl. This image resonated with me, as I apply for several internships on the East Coast.

This is my "girls night" image. It makes me smile and feel warm. It also makes me crave laughter and bubbly conversation with friends whom I haven't seen in too long!

This image represents the metropolitan city that my career path with likely (and hopefully) take me to. Although some may see the pollution and loud obnoxious buildings, I see opportunity and success.

This image represents travel. I had another with a man and woman traveling through Europe together that better depicts my plans. After graduation, I hope to spend at least two years abroad, using my German, visiting friends, and embracing/experiencing new cultures.

I would LOVE to hear a brief analysis of these photos. What underlying goals/desires/drives are prominent to you?

Target (pronounced like Piaget)

Imagine yourself walking into Target at 5:30 Thursday evening. You have just completed a stressful but successful day at work. Your stomach is growling wildly and your legs are threatening to give in for the day, making collapsing into the shopping cart seem strangely appealing. Maybe you could pick up a pillow and blanket from the shelf first....

5:35, you snap back into focus and continue your trip down the center aisle toward the cleaning supplies. You scroll through a mental list of items to pick up: toilet paper, toothpaste, body soap, bananas, mac and cheese, coffee, and sponges. First stop, toilet paper. You are surrounded by brand messaging and advertising message compete for your diminishing attention. Do you splurge for the double quilted? The baby on the Angel Soft package looks very comfortable. What about the bargain Target brand? No, that looks more like tissue paper. Ultimately, you settle for the Cottonelle. Who can say no to a puppy?

Toilet paper, check.

In the next aisle, is the toothpaste. Wow! Is that a Justin Bieber toothbrush? Ooh, so many options. What is the difference between Glamour and 3D white? If I buy Tom's toothpaste will I save a child in Africa? Sensodine... my teeth are fairly sensitive these days. Do I have coffee stains? The abundance of options is overwhelming. This seemingly quick shopping trip has already lasted longer than planned. You grad the Glamorous White and head for the body soap.

For a third time, you are bombarded with options. Each product promises different sensations, smells, lifestyles and superior benefits. Now, some of you may have lower levels of shopping enthusiasm than I, and established brand preferences for toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap brands. My point is this: When did all of the products intended to make life more convenient end up making life more complicated. Rather than making shopping efficient and successful, it has become its own breed of stress monster. 

In conclusion, you can find me in the toothpaste aisle, sleeping away shopping distress in the shopping cart.

Stress & Cognitive Mapping

Personally, I often find working in a teams quite stressful, particularly when you all have different goals. In the cognitive mapping activity in class on Tuesday, I found that the activity we were performing significantly reduced the stress of "teamwork."

Below are photos of our original group cognitive maps (for Social Media Platforms).

Elements that made this task less stressful for me, personally, were as follows:

I. Visuals - I am a particularly visual learner, so having a visual map as an assignment resonated very well. Communicating visually is also a powerful tool for teams. Too often we are delayed when we attempt (unsuccessfully) to explain a concept or idea without providing a visual example.

II. Multiple Moving Parts - By this I mean the Stickie Notes. It is very helpful to have multiple items to be utilized when working in a group so that everybody can be doing something.

III. Nothing is Permanent - The use of whiteboards, and Stickie Notes made this task seem less daunting. Often, again personally, the pursuit of perfection intimidates and stresses me out on assignments like this. With the knowledge that anything written on the whiteboard can be easily erased or elaborated on, and the Stickie Notes could be repositioned, our group was able to ideate and innovate. This allowed us to rely on the process to reach a conclusion, rather then focusing too heavily on group dynamics or other factors.

Let them eat pie

"We must have a pie," David Mamet wrote in "Boston Marriage." "Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie."

Towards the end of the winter and during the beginning of the spring semester, days are slowly getting longer but piles of homework are simultaneously growing taller. Cause for stress? I think yes. One solution to this stressful predicament? Pie. Pie is delicious, relatively simple to bake, readily available to purchase, and perfect to enjoy with friends.

So you've decided on pie. Will you make your own pie? Go to a restaurant and order a slice? Purchase a whole pie from a store? Purchase an individual slice from a grocery store? Or have cafe courier deliver you a slice of pie? It is incredible that a need for pie can be satisfied in so many different ways. The way in which you choose to satisfy your desire for pie will be based on a variety of different values and perceptions. Here is my mind-map when navigating the pie possibilities:

• I want apple pie.
• Although going out to eat would be fun, it is too expensive.
• I should make a pie with friends, the process would be a fun activity!
• I have flour, but need apples, milk, eggs, cinnamon, and other ingredients...
• Go to the nearest grocery store and purchase ingredients.

Notice, my reasoning for not satisfying my need for pie at a restaurant was based on price. The average slice of pie at a restaurant in Bozeman is $8 or $9. The ingredients I would need to purchase in order to bake a pie would total to around $16 (six apples for $3 + a half gallon of milk $2 + 12 eggs $3 + 16 oz of unsalted butter $4 + cinnamon $4). This is not including the value of time, gas or cooking equipment required. 

Although I thought I valued low pricing, in this example, could it be argued that an underlying desire was social; to spend more time with friends? Tell me what you think. 

For fun: 

How to Avoid Making Huge Mistakes on Life Decisions

Meghan Daum's article entitled, "My Misspent Youth" resonated with me on multiple levels. Most superficially, we share a first name. We also share similar experiences involving martinis and overpriced apartments in New York City. After graduating from Bozeman High School in 2010, I too followed my dreams of living in the big apple, pursuing modeling.

Were our decisions to "follow our hearts" to New York City rational?

If you were to ask Simon Sinek (from the Ted Talk "Start With Why"), I presume his answer would be yes.

Why?

Simple. Because we started with "why." Instead of asking ourselves "how" or "what" we acted on instinct and from the core.

How is this related to stress?

When we approach life decisions from the outside in, beginning with "what" and "how" instead of "why," we often end up stressed about details beyond our control. My intention is not to downplay the important roles of preparation or logic, just to stretch your mind and offer a counterintuitive approach to decision making.

Over a century ago Louis Pasteur famously said, "Chance favors only the prepared mind."

Prepare, listen to your gut, then DO.

Ten Tips for Stress Management

The first week of classes is undeniably a stressful period of time. After a month long break of sweet treats, refreshments (and debauchery?) we are displaced back into academia. Following is a list of tips compiled to help YOU navigate your new syllabi with ease:

1. Have an orgasm. In sexologist Beverly Whipple's book, "The Orgasms Answer Guide," she discusses the benefits of orgasm backed by results of scientific studies conducted by Carol Rinklieb Ellison (2000) and scientists at Groningen University in the Netherlands, among others. One limitation of this source is that it explores only female orgasm, but evidence is clear and conclusive: Orgasm reduces stress and anxiety producing instead feelings of warmth and relaxation.
2. "Bye, Felicia." Avoiding people who cause you to feel anxious is worth the extra few steps it takes to avoid them. If you feel your jaw tightening when a certain coworker is around, make an effort to distance yourself from your coworker (respectfully, of course!).
3. Face shots at Bridger. By no means am I encouraging you to skip your Consumer Behavior class for a powder day, but I am encouraging you to "ditch part of your to-do list" as the Mayo Clinic puts it. Once you prioritize your tasks, and you have completed the "A" and "B" tasks close your laptop and treat yourself to something you enjoy. Your tasks upon return will seem less daunting after you have refreshed. 
4. Breathe. About two years ago now I received my yoga teaching certificate, which completely revolutionized the way I approach life. Here are two quick breathing methods to release stress while studying. Method one: Breathe in through your nose. Draw your breath deep into your low belly (below your belly button). Breathe in as slowly as you can until your lungs are at capacity, then pause at the top of your breath. Release your breath out the mouth even slower than you inhaled, and repeat. Method two: While inhaling lift your shoulders all the way to your earlobes. Upon exhalation, release your shoulders slowly and completely. 
5. Get support from trusted friends, family or a professional. Venting to people who you trust can help relieve you of the burden on your shoulders. This can be as formal as seeking a psychologist, or as informal as chatting with friends over dinner.
6. Yoga. Yes, I already mentioned yogic-breathing, but the practice of yoga itself has benefits as well. Moving as little as 20 minutes per day can significantly reduce stress levels, advises Forbes. Movement does not have to be yoga, it could be swimming, walking, lifting, basketball, ect...
7. Lower your standards. And by this I mean, set realistic goals for yourself. Focus on progress, not perfection. 
8. Sleep. "Sleep is so crucial that even slight sleep deprivation or poor sleep can affect memory, judgement and mood." Although it is tempting to pass out at 4 am and wake up with a triple-frappe-spresso-BLAH at 6 am, it is not healthy or efficient. Source of quote: American Psychological Association.
9. LOL (laugh out loud). According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter just may be the best medicine. The clinic cites pain relief, mood enhancement, and increase in personal satisfaction as benefits, among others (read full article here).
10. Play with Fido. Until recently, there has been little conclusive research on the positive interaction between humans and their animal companions. Current research reveals strong correlation between pets and lower stress levels. Put down your pencil and play with a Frisbee!
11. Make Stress Your Friend. This is my personal favorite. In her Ted Talk on stress management, Kelly McGonigal reveals the connection between stress and your perception of it: Stress affects you how you BELIEVE it will.  In marketing research classes, we learn about eustress (positive stress) and distress (negative stress), but nothing quite as revolutionary as "stress belief," as Kelly McGonigal refers to it. Her fifteen minute video will change how you think about stress for good.

How do you combat/perceive stress? Do you resonate with one of the tips above, or have another method? I'm anxious to hear!