Experiencing a bit of stress is common for hard-working professionals, regardless of their career path. Anyone who cares about what they do is bound to feel a bit frazzled when things go awry or the workload piles up. However, when stress reaches dangerously high levels or lingers at an uncomfortable level for too long, there can be a number of ramifications—with decreased productivity and physical health at the top of the list.

Stress is a vicious cycle that, when left unchecked, can be both the cause and effect of a professional’s declining work performance. It seems that, once it gets started, it’s almost impossible to break its circular motions; you make a mistake at work, which causes stress. The stress then causes you to make further mistakes, which only heighten the stress, and so on. But rest assured, there are ways to break the cycle and discourage it from starting again! Here are seven great ways to minimize your stress levels and get back to your productive, happy self:

1. Cut down on unnecessary decisions. It seems the further we progress in life and work, the more decisions we are met with each day. However, putting too much emphasis on every small choice we make can bring on a wave of stress that’s hard to deter. Instead of focusing on each small decision as a unique obstacle, develop routines that can help you cut down on the number of choices you have to make daily. Taking a half hour on weekends to pack pre-made meals for the week instead of deciding what to bring for lunch during your weekday morning rush, for example, is a great way to take your attention off the small stuff and free up time for the important choices ahead.
2. Keep your eyes on the track, not the finish line. Having a career goal is wonderful and can give us a sense of direction; unfortunately, when that goal seems far away, it can also provide us with a lot of stress. Instead of focusing on a far-off dream, set manageable goals you can address and track on a monthly or weekly basis. The more successes you have in the small goals, the more confident and successful you will feel, which will help you be more productive in your future goals—all of which will eventually add up to that long-term reward.
3. Give thanks. This one may seem like an homage to our recent celebration of Thanksgiving, but it’s important to give thanks year-round rather than one out of the 365 days per year. Many of us often spend our time focusing on the things we want and need to improve on rather than taking the time to appreciate what we have. By acknowledging what you have and what you’ve accomplished on a regular basis, you can chase the worries away with a boost of confidence and a renewed sense of purpose that stress usually serves to diminish.
4. Just say no (when you can). We’re taught from early on to be pleasers: do the extra credit assignment to bump up your grade, take that extra class to include on your resume, put in that overtime to finish a project early. But while going above and beyond is a great way to add to your success, everyone has their limits. If you find yourself getting stressed out, try to say no to any extra favors or requests that you feel comfortable turning down. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re more relaxed and productive as a result.
5. Keep the “balance” in “work-life.” There may be work to do and your schedule may be filling quickly, but always leave time for yourself! If you have to, pencil a specific block of time into your schedule for some R&R and treat it as a non-negotiable activity, like brushing your teeth. You’ll be much more productive when rested and healthy than stressed out and frazzled any day.
6. Avoid perfectionism. “Perfectionism” was once a common answer to the tricky interview question “what is your greatest weakness?”, as it was originally seen as a strength disguised as a weakness. However, perfectionism is actually a problematic flaw you’d do best to avoid, as it often leads to an influx of stress upon even the most minor of accidents or failures. Accept that things will happen and that you’re on a continuous road to improvement, and you’ll be much happier for it.
7. Gauge your stress levels and adjust accordingly.  If you’re serious about cutting back a great deal on stress, take a week to track your activities and the stress levels you experience as a result of them. For example, you may feel relaxed when staying up late binge-watching your favorite TV show on Netflix, but how does that affect your stress levels in the morning when you oversleep? Keeping a chart of your major activities throughout the day and a 1-10 rating of the stress levels they produce could help you pinpoint what’s causing you the most stress and what you should potentially minimize or cut out of your day altogether.