Although it doesn’t happen very often, every couple of years my stress hits a level where it is temporarily too much for me to handle. Although this is usually a result of things that are happening at work, this level of stress can also be caused by other areas of my life. However, regardless of the reason why it happens, when my stress hits this level, I follow the same routine to get it under control.

I start by using the Internet to book an airline ticket to Chicago (I always look for the flight that is available the soonest). Once I get to the Chicago airport, I pickup a car rental from the airport, and then drive to the outskirts of Chicago to see my oldest friend. His guest room is always open to me, so even when I unexpectedly show up at his doorstep, he has a bed that I can use for a couple of days while I relax and let all of the weight off of my shoulders.

This may sound like a strange routine, but it always allows me to successfully get my stress under control after just a couple of days.