How can I use chi gung or tai chi to manage daily stress?

Stress begins with the over-excitement of the nervous system and then slowly works its way deep into the body. It begins as wet cement, so to speak, and when the stress is prolonged this begins to harden, meaning that the contraction and constriction of the nerves and internal organs starts to become permanent. The stress of the morning begins to harden around lunchtime. The stress accumulated after lunch will begin to set by evening or the end of the work day. Five minutes spent doing chi gung or tai chi during a coffee break in the morning or the afternoon can prove to be of great value, in effect wiping away the day's stress and keeping the metaphorical cement wet. Ten or fifteen minutes at lunch can bring back the freshness of the morning. Practice after work can take away all the stress ("wet cement") accumulated during the day. See The Big Book of Tai Chiⁱ, chapter 4 for more on dealing with stress.