One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.  ~ Bertrand Russell

I too like Natalie Goldberg believe that stress is an ignorant state, which believes that everything is an emergency.  Some techniques that have worked for my clients and I presume will work for you as well are -

Show Love
Induce the relaxation response and lower your stress hormones, by cuddling your pet, giving an unexpected hug to a friend or family member, snuggling with your spouse, or talking to a friend about the good things in your lives. When you do this you not only become creative and help yourself but help others as well.

Massage
Massage is a known stress-buster and a relaxant. If you cannot take a massage from a professional than try giving one to yourself.

Retreat to a place of Quiet
When you sense too many things happening too fast and bothering you, it’s time to stop and find a quiet place to sit or lie down and put the stressful situation on hold. Take a few deep breaths and concentrate on releasing tension and slowing down your mind & heartbeat.

Listen to Music
When the going gets rough, take a musical stress detour by aligning your heartbeat with the slow tempo of your favorite song, or classical music.

Change your Attitude
Envision anything that triggers a positive feeling; a vision of your childhood when you use to be carefree and having fun, vision of your child or spouse, the image of your pet, that great piece of jewellery you’re saving up to buy, a memento from a vacation…Conjuring up the thought will help slow your breathing, relax your tense muscles and put a smile on your face. Creating a positive emotional attitude can also calm and steady your heart rhythm, contributing to feelings of relaxation and peace with-in.