In today's busy world, we often find ourselves running around like crazy. We are so loaded down with things we have to do, need to do and should do that we're sometimes not sure what to do! And the most frustrating part? Sometimes, at the end of the day, we feel that we've barely accomplished anything or discover the most important task for that day remains undone. And feeling inefficient and out of control will make you even more stressed out.

There's a really easy way to avoid this problem and have more control over your busy life: make a list. At first glance, this may sound like a ridiculous solution for an overbooked schedule, something that might be appropriate for people with too much time on their hands. But, in fact, it's just the opposite. Keeping a list of what you've done and what you need to do is like having a road map of your day. Even if you make stops along the way (like last-minute tasks that pop up), you know where you've been, and you know where you need to go.

I began using lists seriously while working as a paralegal. Often, at the end of the day, I had barely scratched the surface of my to-do list. Frustrated, I started keeping a list not only of what I needed to do, but what I had actually done. It helped to look back at my list and see that my to-do list wasn't finished because I had done twenty other last-minute tasks. Any unfinished tasks were put on the next day's list and underlined if they were really important. While keeping these lists, I would scribble down things I needed at the store as I thought of them. This reduced my number of shopping trips, too.

Whether you keep your list in a notebook tucked in your purse or in a special organizer, having one and keeping it up to date will help you feel more on top of your busy life. Getting things done and feeling more in control will reduce your stress more than the best aromatherapy around.