Kell - that's very similar to what I do, but I try to visulise a box being drawn as I do it.

I also find just holding my breath helps sometimes. Holding and then letting go slowly, thinking of whatever is annoying me as I breathe out, so I breathe out the stressor.

Smiling and nodding - smiling with my eyes. Laughing when I get upset, before I start to stress badly - eg DS wees on the ground and laughing as I pick him up - it's only a little thing but I find its the little things that stress me badly.

Stewing over little things makes them big - keeping a list in your head of indiscretions doesn't help you destress, rather the opposite.

And you know what they say - take care of the little things, and the big things take care of themselves.