Life is full of stressful moments, big and small.

At a Relief Society night meeting presentation Sept. 23 in the Hillcrest 1st Ward in Logan, Utah, Rosemary Eubanks, the enrichment leader, gave a presentation on taking available five-minute chunks to accomplish little things.

By themselves, they may seem insignificant, but in the overall scheme of life, they definitely add up, and doing them can help restore order in your mind and reduce the stress you're feeling.

Yes, it was a Relief Society meeting, so her suggestions were aimed at women. But many of them can be helpful to anyone. Among her tips:

• Practice a talent.
• Smile and be friendly, and laugh at a good joke.
• Bake cookies -- for sure, that would take longer than one five-minute segment for me.
• Sew on a missing button or mend the seam in your shirt that has come apart.
• Update a few family photos.
• Choose good music to listen to.
• Clean out your purse -- or wallet.
• Polish a pair of shoes.
• Water your houseplants.
• Get rid of a stack of old magazines or catalogs.
• Straighten your bedroom before you turn in for the night.
• Plan breakfast the night before and even set the table.
• Give a family member a back rub -- or get a back rub from someone else.
• Write out a quick list of things you're grateful for.
• Walk to the end of the block and back.
• Walk up and down the stairs five times.
• Do some stretching exercises or practice yoga.
• Sit, relax and dream awhile -- and don't feel guilty about it.

Nov. 26: More five-minute tips.

E-mail: rwalsh@desnews.com