͑1͒ Avoid unbounded secular terms in both the transformation and the evolution equations to ensure a uniform asymptotic approximation. ͑2͒ Decouple all of the slow processes from the fast processes to ensure a valid long-term model. ͑3͒ Insist that the stochastic slow manifold is precisely the transformed fast processes coordinate being equal to zero. ͑4͒ To simplify matters, eliminate as many as possible of the terms in the evolution equations. ͑5͒ Try to remove all fast processes from the slow processes by avoiding as much as possible the fast time memory integrals in the evolution equations.