Stress is one of the worst feelings anybody will experience. It has a negative impact on everything in your life, from performance to health to your social life. Whether you're a student overwhelmed with classwork or someone with a pressuring job, there are many things you can do to help calm yourself down. Take a few deep breaths and read on:
1. Go for a journey
Leave the area you're experiencing the stress in for a moment. Go out to town or even out of town. Take a vacation from what's causing any anxiety. Go alone or bring along a friend.
2. Take a short break
Put down the homework for a moment and relax. Watch a funny movie, draw a picture, or maybe take a hot bath. Take some time to be with a loved one.
3. Get some sleep
Overworking yourself eats up your time to rest, and a lack of sleep will have a negative impact on the work you're trying to finish. So try not to stay up too late and reduce the amount of caffeine in your diet to help you relax more.
4. Exercise
I wrote an article about how running releases chemicals that gives runners what they call "a runner's high." http://theodysseyonline.com/merrimack/running-goal... It's a feel good state of mind that can be found, realistically, in any form of exercise and sport. It not only burns calories but also any feelings of anger and frustration. Go for a run or join a team. Go for a walk or attend a yoga class.
Music helps too!
5. Eat healthier
Balanced and nutritious meals keep you energized and more alert throughout the day. It's a better way of couping with the bad times than drinking booze or smoking.
6. Avoid the stressors
People who stress you out should be avoided more in your life. Drop your bad friends and hangout with people that make you happy. Otherwise, some adjustments in behaviors on both ends will have to be made.
7. Don't worry, be crappy
Nothing is perfect, at all. There will always be some fault in anything. You can go on forever trying to fix every last detail of whatever you're working on. Sometimes though, you have to look at the big picture that meets reasonable standards. It's okay to have something be "good enough." You get the job done and not worry about little details no one cares about at all.
8. Stay in control
There are days where you have to limit yourself and learn when to say "no." You can't do it all alone. Life can get the best of us. You can't fight reality and you can't predict what's going to happen next. But instead of worrying about those things, control yourself and what YOU do.
9. Look on the bright side
When everything goes wrong, think about everything that has gone right and what will continue to go right for you. Besides, will what matters now matter for that long? Don't forget to smile and remember to have fun. Laugh a little, it's the best kind of medicine.
10. Express yourself
Don't bottle up your emotions. Telling others how you feel will help ease the bitterness.
11. Move on
Forgive and forget what happened in the past and look to the future stronger and with a better attitude.
12. Change something
Something may have to be dropped to make you feel better and give you time to find comfort in another area. Don't waste your time in a major or job that makes you unhappy. Don't continue doing an activity that gets you in a bad mood. If it's something that can't be steered clear from, deal with it with a clear mind, head on. Learn how to work with it, or go on a new path.
