1.1) About Stress Level calculator

- This stress level calculator is adapted from Ayala Pines, Ph.D. and Elliot Aronson, Ph.D., " Why Managers Burn Out," Sales & marketing management 4 (February 1989):38.

- Using the stress calculator is very easy. All you have to do is answer the questions that are showed in the calculator display. You scroll through questions by using the two red arrow keys. The actual question number is displayed between these two keys . There are 21 questions in the test. To answer a question, just give a grade from 1 to 7, by using the respective numbered labeled keys from 1 to 7. Once finishing answering the questions, the result will be showed in the buttons color scale, that begins with a light blue color and goes to a brown color. A small gray ball will be on the color that represents the result. The questions text an the meaning for each grade you assign is showed on the calculator display and are very intuitive. The meaning for the color results is:

- light blue - this would be the best. But it's recommended reviewing the answers, just to guarantee there are no mistakes;
- medium blue - you are OK. The only suggestion is also to review your answers, to be sure you were sincere in your evaluation;
- yellow - it could be a good idea to check your work life, evaluate your priorities and think about some changes;
- red - you are experiencing a high level stress. It's strongly recommended to take this into consideration;
- brown - Oops. This is serious. You need immediate help.

- To clear the registers with the answers, tap the key with a 'besom' icon on it.

1.2) About Biorhythms

- from ancient days philosophers and sages have taught that human happiness lies in the harmonious integration of body, mind and heart. Now a theory claims to be able to quantitatively gauge the functioning of these three aspects of ourselves: the physical, sensitive or emotional and cognitive or intellectual.
- the biorhythm theory is based on the assumption that the human body has inner clocks or metabolic rhythms with constant cycle times. Currently, three cycles starting at birth in a positive direction are postulated. The 23-day or physical cycle relates with physical vitality, endurance and energy. The 28-day cycle or sensitivity cycle relates with emotion, intuition and cheerfulness. The 33-day or cognitive cycle relates with mental alertness and judgment. This calculator, grasping new ideas and concepts, also considers the following cycles:
• Compassion (38 days)
• Aesthetic (43 days)
• Self-Awareness (48 days)
• Spiritual (53 days)
- besides the three primary cycles, there are three secondary cycles, also considered in this calculator:
• Mastery - this is the composite of the intellectual and physical cycles. Mastery encompasses your ability to succeed at tasks and to obtain what you desire. This cycle also tracks athletic ability and the focus to learn physical skills.
• Passion - this is the composite of physical and emotional cycles. Passion encompasses your motivation to act, and the drive that allows you to continue a difficult pursuit. This cycle also tracks sexuality in its purest form.
• Wisdom - this is the composite of the emotional and intellectual cycles. It encompasses your understanding of the world, your role in it, and the things that are truly important to your life. This cycle also tracks the presence of mind that you need to make crucial decisions.

- for each cycle, a day is considered either high, low, or critical. Positive values are regarded as energetic times, you are your most dynamic in the cycle. Negative values are regarded as the recuperative periods. The critical days (0 values) are regarded as your accident prone days, especially for the physical and emotional cycles.

• super-critical days -> at each 10626 days (~ 29 years and 41 days), counted from your birth, all the three cycles go together to a critical day. We hope you 'celebrate' at least 3 super-critical days in your life. Example 3.2 shows how to calculate dates for super-critical days.