I've found the worse things get, the harder it is to focus. Ironically, the worse things are, the more you need to focus. I personally found myself squinting at a todo list on voo2do.com and not getting anywhere. It was un-fun and a waste of time. So what is the solution? Well, simply to reduce stress.
I didn't say remove your stresses. That's impossible. I've got my share as do you. And escape only postpones our stresses anyhow. The solution is in a quiet place where stress can't come. It's found in our times alone with God.
Don't take this as a "pat answer". Time is our most valuable commodity. In many ways it's the most valuable gift we can give to God in a post-modern world. The gift you get back is the emotional pressure valve released.
Here's where I run into trouble. I get into my place of prayer... And stress to Jesus about all my troubles. Then I get to wondering why I come out of my prayer closet so irritated and wound up. I've just wasted God's and my own time by further embracing my stress instead of releasing it.
This is a suggestion Richard J. Foster gives in his excellent book "Celebration of Discipline". He calls it the "palms down, palms up" or "centering down" technique. I don't think the posture is all that important, as in all things it's the heart that matters. Here's how it goes. You first spend a few minutes putting all your stresses in God's hands ("palms down" for releasing). Then you spend some time receiving God's peace and power to deal with these issues ("palms up" for receiving). Last of all you spend a few minutes in silence. Don't talk, don't prioritize the day, just listen for the still small voice of God.
Some might find that kind of structured prayer a bit restrictive. I've found that in a place of stress, it helps give me focus in prayer. That focus in prayer just keeps going after you've prayed.... And that's what we need in times of stress!
So here's a cheesy anachronism for you. T.I.M.E.: Take Intimate Moments Everyday. Wow, that's a bit dorky, but if it helps you remember... dorky is ok.
Peace, love, and hair grease... mostly peace.
