Here are ten alternative activities and experiences for guidance off the carousel:

1. Physical exercise. This can be something indoor or outdoors, dancing, or just household chores.

2. Practice muscle relaxation techniques. Start with one muscle and progressively move to the next, and continue. Deep relaxation practice for 10 to 15 minutes every day removes stress, worry, and increases energy level and productivity.

3. Learn abdominal breathing techniques. This increases oxygen to the brain and muscles, stimulates nervous system, promotes positive energy (and attraction) between mind and body that radiates outward. The easiest technique is to lie on your back, place a hand on the stomach, and breathe in and out while observing the hand raise and lower. Watch a baby breathe, they breathe this way naturally.

4. Emotional music. Music that brings out the warm fuzzies,returns a fond memory, makes your soul sing, or warms your spirit.

5. Allow a distraction. Watch TV, go to a movie, play a video game, research on the Internet, read an inspiration poetry or story. Even at age 50, I still love, "The Little Engine That Could."

6. Verbal discussion or expression. Talk with someone about the worry. They don't need to respond with solutions just compassion.

7. Stop and build something with your hands. If you garden, plant or pull weeds. Fix a lamp, paint a wall, or sandpaper an old table.

8. Play a game. Solitaire, a mind game, jigsaw, or crossword puzzle. A board game with the kids or Chess with your significant other.

9. Allow the artist in you to emerge. Find the kids crayons, do you paint or like to draw with pencils or colored pens. Play around, experiment, explore, and play. It loosens the grip. This opens up the other side of the brain and balances the stress from the other side.

10. Journal or write the worry away. Many times the worry isn't as bad as our mind makes it out to be. Explore possible options or write about a fond memory you have that has nothing to do with the worry. Keep the writing light and airy. If you find the writing getting heavy, shift to something else.

Cut and post this list on the refrigerator. At the first sign of worry, pull something from the list that feels good at the time or fits into the time you have available. Adjust the list as you find things that do and do not work. Enroll the help of friend to let you know when your language reaps worry.

If worry follows you to work, here are 10 ways to help loosen its grip so you can focus on your job. The worse thing you can do is deny its there and push it down. No matter how hard you think you've succeeded, people can see the change.

* Take a slow walk to the bathroom, kitchen, or water fountain.

* Write for three minutes, dump everything onto the page, and then tear it to shreds. Then write something positive for another three minutes.

* Relax each muscle, start with the toes, and move upwards. Until relax.

* Focus on your breath. Do just a few minutes of abdominal breathing (see #3 above).

* Change surroundings even if briefly.

* Talk to someone else for a few minutes about something positive and not about the job.

* Eat an apple slowly, deliberately; focus on each bite and its taste.

* Listen to someone share a story about something they enjoy.

* If possible, turn on some music (headphones). A song only takes three minutes and worry can distract you all day. It's worth the three-minute investment.

* Even gentle movement changes physiology and focus. Stand up, move, stretch, or sway to the music: real or imagined.

Separate the truth from the perceived facts. Afterwards, brainstorm whatever possibilities come forth.

If any of these items are not helping, there may be a natural process occurring. When stressed, the brain's frontal lobe, the thinking part, sends all its blood to the back part of your brain -- also known as flight or fight syndrome. This stops rational thinking. This occurs with any strong emotion, especially anger. Ask someone else for help with the rational thinking until the blood transfers back. It's fruitless to try to force rational thinking during this time. People in a trance are not able.