101 Ways to Fight the Stress Out of Your Life

Most of us are feeling the strain of stress: stress at work, stress at home, stress to meet a deadline, stress to live up to someone's expectations. Stress as a matter of fact and health, has been linked to obesity as well as many other issues.

As a medical student, I am accustomed to stress. But what with harnessing Diethack and doing internships, finding time to actually study has become somewhat a daunting task. I am feeling the burden of stress more than ever.

So here are 101 ways to combat stress, free up your mind, boost up your physical and mental energy and live a healthy lifestyle. When possible, I linked to a story or helpful article to help supplement the idea.

1. Plan your work. Become super-organized.


2. Enjoy your work. Life is too short.


3. Take a walk, appreciate nature.


4. Nuke a bad habit - Bad habits are most of the time sources of our stress.


5. Adopt the 7-Day Mental diet.


6. Find time to talk to your loved ones, family or friends.


7. Sincerely help others without expecting anything in return.


8. Get a good night's sleep.


9. Enjoy fine dining from time to time.


10. Make a loan and help fight poverty - Making a difference in the world can bring a sense of well being.


11. De-stress by finding inspiration from success stories.


12. Laugh!


13. Cry!


14. Listen to uplifting music/songs.


15. Do some desk exercises if you are stressed at work.


16. Enjoy a comedy show on TV, even it is reminds you of work.


17. Get out of debt if you have financial problems.


18. Clean up your desk if you have stressed out and cannot still find this file.


19. Avoid stress by learning how to tame these evil credit cards.


20. Hug someone. This one actually works for me. ;)


21. Unclutter your life


22. Become an early riser


23. Take a break.


24. Eliminate distractions


25. The right attitude counts. Become positive
.

26. Start now and avoid stress


27. Learn to manage kids and parents within the Sandwich Generation


28. Enjoy what you have instead of what you want


29. Embrace the key elements of an ideal life


30. Cut down junk mail


31. Start with small expectations and increase them as time goes by.


32. Make yourself a cup of tea. Inhale the warmth and scent coming from it. Enjoy it slowly by sipping it.
    


33. Have the courage to be yourself.


34. Acquire a wealthy mindset.


35. Procrastinate.


36. Get Things Done.


37. Don't be over committed.


38. Make your first year of marriage easier.


39. Let go of "emotional baggage". Grudges do nobody any good.


40. Define a healthier lifestyle for yourself


41. Join associations, go to clubs and surround yourself with people. Connecting with others on a personal and emotional basis serves as an outlet for stress.


42. Taste some of the world's healthiest and "tastiest" foods


43. Take a rest break


44. Heal old wounds


45. Sing a song.
    


46. Learn to cook and avoid the stress of harming your body with junk foods.


47. Stop smoking, alcohol and other addictive drugs!


48. Do some moderate exercises


49. Visualize a peaceful scene and this will have a soothing effect on your mind.


50. Kick start your day with some great foods


51. Do regular health checks.


52. Take deep breaths to clear your head.


53. Massage is a good way to fight stress.


54. Aromatherapy is also very good to get rid of stress.


55. Lay an energy line.


56. Avoid temporary reliefs by taking medication like Prozac.


57. Yoga has been a longtime tool to achieve a zen life.


58. Tai Chi Chuan promotes health and longevity and eliminates stress at the same time.


59. Take power naps.


60. Set some time aside to do what you love.


61. Accept your limitations and know that sometime you cannot do it all.


62. Don't get stuck in the past and move forward.


63. Studies have shown that noise have a profound impact on our well-being. So as far as possible, avoid stress sounds like the roar of a carnivore, the crack of a falling tree, the scream of a child, wailing sirens, etc.


64. Don't rush through meals.


65. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. They are rich in serotonin, a chemical that reduces the effects of stress.


66. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Reverse count slowly from 10 to 1. This is a technique used by anger management therapists but which also works for stressed people.


67. Do some stretching in the morning to exercise your joints and avoid stress pains later during the day.


68. Relaxing in the sun is a great way to forget about the worries of this world. Learn how to sunbathe safely.


69. Build confidence in yourself. Lack of confidence is a huge stress generator.


70. While working sure will leave you stressed out, the satisfaction of a job well done often surpasses the stress you will feel. So work hard and savor your successes.


71. Let passion drive you instead of the "getting things done" mentality.


72. Sometimes the simplest prayer helps.


73. Finding a great gift is sure a stress for me. Try the following cheap gift ideas.


74. Avoid tight-fitting clothes on your head and around your neck. It suppresses blood flow to the brain and can cause headaches for you.
    


75. Have sex.


76. Watch a movie.


77. Smile!


78. Play with a yo yo.


79. Avoid negativity.


80. Take a hot shower.


81. Live, not merely exist!


82. Find a day to recuperate and power up for the coming week. On Sundays, I stay at home, tend to household jobs like cleaning,etc.. and prepare myself for the coming week.


83. Organize your life.


84. Psych yourself up.


85. For those that are afraid of burglars and stress out at bedtime, start a neighborhood watch program.


86. Manage your energy effectively.


87. Body image is one stress generator. Learn how to get back in your skinny jeans.


88. Learn relaxation techniques to enjoy life.


89. The hipster pda (hPDA) has been a real blessing. It's the only tool I use to organize my life and eliminate stress.


90. Nagging can be very unpleasant and stressful. Learn how to stop the nagging.


91. Get an ideal job.


92. Take a vacation.


93. Think well before deciding on a career.


94. Do it now!


95. Keep busy when stressed. An idle mind is the devil's workshop.


96. Get rid of shyness by learning how to speak in public.


97. Sometimes sleep disorders are at the roots of your stress.


98. Turn off the television. Too much visual overload is bad for the brain processes.


99. Often times, people are not capable of coping with the stress in their life. If you are in that group and admit to it, it's better to seek help from counselors.


100. Find a day of the week to let go. For me Saturday is blast day where I meet with my friends and have a fun.


101. Communicate. Not saying the things we feel can lead to a sense of frustration, hurt, anger or anxiety, all which are stress burdens on our mind.
     

“If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.” - George F. Burns

There is no way that all 101 methods will apply to everyone. However, by choosing a couple to implement, you will feel less stress and it will make you healthier.