How to deal with stress

If you’re like me then you have WAY too much stress in your life. It seems like everyone needs everything from you 24/7. Teachers want homework, house needs cleaning, friends want you to go to some new thing with them, your boss makes an entire list of things for you to do, and to make it worse your car keeps flashing that dreaded “Service engine soon” light at you.

From my experience you have a few options. One option is to try to do everything, burn out and end up sick in bed. For some reason I tend to choose that option and yes I’m writing this blog sick in bed A second option is to do your laundry, pack your luggage and go on vacation, leaving all your worries behind you. The only obvious problem with this option is that everything still needs to get done when you get back. The third option is to find some sort of balance between what needs to get done and taking care of yourself. This option is definitely the best one even if we don’t always choose it. So to remind myself and my readers I have made a list of ways to deal with stress.

Get enough rest

Skipping sleep may seem like a way to make more time but you won’t get as much done when you’re tired. Consistently getting an adequate amount of sleep will actually help you be more productive. Getting the right amount of sleep will help you get things done quicker, with more accuracy and help you be in a better mood.

Eat good food (not just junk food)

When you’re in a hurry junk food may seem like the easiest thing but a real meal will allow you to do more in the long run. Foods high in caffeine and sugar will give you temporary boosts of energy but will leave you drained soon afterwards. A nutritious meal will give you energy throughout the entire day making you more productive in the long run. If you need more advice with what to eat check out this site mypyramid.gov . It is the updated version of the old food pyramid that we all know so well. You can put in your age, gender and weight and it will help you come up with a plan to eat healthy based on your body’s own needs.

Take some personal time

We do a lot for other people but often put our own needs on the backburner. If we really think about this it makes no sense! If we don’t take care of ourselves then we get sick and can’t accomplish anything. Take some time every day for yourself. This might be sitting down with a cup of tea and watching your favorite TV show or taking a jog around the block. As long as it’s something you enjoy and do solely for yourself then it counts.

Know that it’s ok to say no

We often say yes because we feel that it’s the right thing to do. Don’t be afraid to say no. You aren’t superman/superwomen. You can’t do everything so why try? Focus on what’s really important and let the rest go.

Don’t strive for perfection

It’s great to do a good job but don’t stress to much about being perfect. We are all humans and no one is perfect. Realize that things won’t always go the way you want them to. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

Stop procrastinating

A lot of the time we get so stressed out that we just sit and don’t get anything accomplished. It can sometimes help to only focus on one small task at a time. Break things up into small manageable tasks and get started…NOW… what are you waiting for! Lol

Probably the most important thing to overcoming stress is to sit down and think about it. Figure out what is causing the stress in your life. Write all of the causes down and then try to come up with a solution to it. If you can’t come up with a solution then ask a friend, family member, or even me. If there is a large problem causing your stress then seeking the advice of a professional would be a good idea. Your doctor is always a great first start. After all, stress can cause all sorts of health problems.