Stress is one of those things that every single person on earth goes through at some time or another. Some have more and some have less. I won't go into the effects of stress on us physically; it affects people differently. Simply learning how to deal with stress can help us immensely.
I know that there are definitely people who seem to handle their stress better than other people handle theirs. While attending college, I learned some tips from friends on how they handle their stress, which I will share with you:
Smile. Yes, simply smile. It does not make everything better, but it has a profound effect on our attitude as a whole. The simple act of smiling somehow makes us feel a little bit better.
Laugh. Don't be afraid to laugh when things seem to be going poorly. We all know that laughter really is the best medicine; therefore, we should use it! While you are laughing, you also tend to forget your troubles for a moment.
Fake it. As hard as it is and as cliche as it sounds, faking it really will help you make it. The best way to finish strong is to start. The same goes here. If you NEVER fake it, you will not make it.
Cry. Women especially know that there is nothing like a good cry. It releases tension, and, somehow, it makes us feel a little better afterward. Crying is not a weakness. Sometimes it takes great strength to cry.
Don't ever be afraid to ask for help! It takes tremendous strength and honesty to admit that we don't have it all together. That is OK. No one has ever gone through their entire life and "had it together" the whole time. NO ONE! So, what makes us think that we have to do it? It is unfair to ourselves to believe such things.
Find a good, honest friend. Talk to a pastor or counselor. You might even try going to a psychiatrist. Whomever helps you, talk to that person. You might be surprised at how much you can be helped by just talking.
Help someone else in need. Whether they need groceries or a babysitter or simply someone to talk to, be there for somebody. When we forget about our problems for even a little while and help someone else with their problems, our problems can seem to be a little smaller. If we can help someone else AND make our problems seem a little smaller, why wouldn't we want to do that?
Take a nap. Though this will not solve your problems itself, nothing is gained from no sleep. Sometimes, when we allow ourselves to sleep, we are able to find solutions when we awake. If nothing else, we give our stressed minds a much needed break.
I hope these tips help you as much as they have helped me. Have a stress-free day, and don't forget to smile.