How to Deal With Stress in a Stressful World

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

an open mind that you CAN let go of stress.

Step 1

The first step in dealing with stress is to recognize that you have stress in your life and not be in denial. Let’s face it. We all have at least some stress in our lives, especially with how the world is today. One of the worst things that you can do is to think that you are immune to stress or that you don’t need to deal with stress. SIDE EFFECT OF DENIAL: Stress WILL catch up with you eventually! That is why it is so important that you learn how to deal with it because unfortunately the way it catches up with us is in our health.
Step 2

Set time aside for yourself. Write down activities that you really enjoy. It could be a hobby such as draw, paint, read a book, make jewelry, working on cars, play golf, shoot hoops or barbeque. Incorporate these activities into your life on a regular basis.
Step 3

LAUGH! The old saying is true. “Laughter is the best medicine.” Take the time to laugh. Put in a comedy, go to a movie, read a funny book, make funny faces in the mirror. Whatever it takes, make sure that you laugh every day. And learn to laugh at yourself. People take life to seriously. Laughing at our mistakes or laughing when things are hard doesn’t mean that you are not responsible. In doing this you are actually taking responsibility in maintaining a healthy perspective and outlook.
Step 4

EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE! To some people, I realize this might be worse than a four letter word but to deal with stress in a healthy way, it is a must! If you hate exercise, find something that you can handle and just do it no matter what your feelings about this tell you. You don’t have to go to a gym, run 5 miles a day, workout for an hour. You can go for a 10 minute brisk walk, shoot some hoops, play tennis, go for a walk/jog, do stretches, play the wii active (which by the way is an amazing way to exercise if you get bored easily). Exercising releases chemicals in our brain that help us to cope with stress, among having several other health benefits that you will accomplish along the way. Do something, even if it's only 10 minutes each day!
Step 5

Start a YOGA routine! When I was going through an extreme stressful time in my life, my doctor prescribed yoga. I wasn’t too excited about this for several reasons, the biggest that I was (and still am) really NOT flexible. But yoga is a great way to relax the mind, release tension (unknown tension) in our body and afterwards it’s amazing how you feel a sense of well being.
Step 6

Keep a journal. This will help you to get out frustrations and emotions that might be hard to talk about. It’s a place you can be truly honest and it’s amazing that when you write something bothering you down, after you put that pen down, you feel a sense of release. Even if you aren’t bothered or frustrated just write about anything you want. It really does help in releasing stress!
Step 7

Take a multi vitamin and reduce sugar and caffiene. With stress, it is important that you keep your immune system strong. Stress is the cause of several diseases and illnesses because it weakens our immune system. By taking a good multi vitamin, it will help to keep your immune system strong. Sugar and caffiene can only make your response to stress worse. If you feel you can't cut out either of them, begin by at least reducing that amount that you take in.
Step 8

Think on positive things. When you feel your mind going to negative thoughts, change those thoughts to positive ones. I know that you can think of some. You might not feel you have anything positive to think about and it might even take a few minutes of frying your brain to come up with something, but you can do it. There are a lot of things that we take for granted. If you can’t think of anything positive, how about how you just took one more breath, you are alive, you have a family and friends, you live in a country that might not be perfect, but we are a lot more fortunate than other countries, your future, etc. And remember, this situation that you are going through – and you are GOING THROUGH IT – is going to end. There is always an end to every situation. It never lasts a lifetime.
Step 9

STOP WORRYING. Did you worry today? How did it help your situation? Did it bring you the money that you need? Did it bring you a job? Did it help your relationship? Probably not. The only thing that worry does is make you sick and in the meantime, it will make your life less enjoyable and miserable. When you start worrying, do the exercise above – start thinking on positive things.