How to Avoid Stress

Co-authored by Chloe Carmichael, PhD

Updated: May 29, 2019

Sometimes stress seems like something we just have to accept. In order to get ahead in this day and age, you've gotta be running, running, running. Unfortunately, it's not good for our health -- mentally and physically. Take the following steps to manage your stress and get more out of your day.

Method One of Two:
The Habits

  1. 1
    Eat healthily. Well-nourished bodies are better equipped to handle anything, so, in looking out for your mind, look out for your body. Start your day off with a healthy breakfast and stay on track with small, nutritious meals throughout the day to keep energized.[1]
    • Many people stress eat -- that can be over or under-eating. If you know this is a problem for you, watch for it. It's probably just making the issue worse.
  2. 2
    Get enough sleep. When you get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, you are ready to tackle the stress of any given day more easily. If you're tired, you'll likely be less patient and easily irritated -- which just exacerbates the stress cycle. Getting a good night's rest not only makes for a good day, but a good day makes for a good night.[2]
    • If sleeping is problematic, assess why. Noises? Lights? An insane schedule? What can you adjust to make sleeping easier?
  3. 3
    Exercise. Yoga to aerobics to walking around the block after dinner can help relieve stress -- you don't have to go pounding the pavement if you're out of shape. A little goes a long, long way toward stress management and your health.
    • As if you didn't already know, exercise is good for the mind, body, and spirit. Not only does it increase your overall health and your sense of well-being, but it also gets your endorphins going. And that can seriously improve your mood. Oddly enough, it's similar to the calming effect of meditation.[3]
  4. 4
    Monitor your addictive habits. It is naturally human to cope with stress outwardly in a number of ways. However, usually those ways aren't so conducive to the problem alleviating itself. If you're prone to this, keep an eye out. Ask others to keep an eye out for you, too.
    • If you find yourself eating, smoking, or drinking (to name just a few), it may be in response to your stress. It can seem like it's helping with the problem, but when you think long-term, it's just making it worse. Take a hard, honest look at your habits.
  5. 5
    Take a time out. Nurturing yourself should be priority numero uno if you're trying to reduce stress. You can't be expected to be able to solve all life's problems if you're not at your best, so take a moment to just chill.[1]
    • Try to take at least 10 minutes a day to yourself. It can be in bed, on a yoga mat, or just in your office chair. Wherever it is, shut out everything and take a moment to just be calm.
  6. 6
    Practice relaxation techniques. Though it may seem a bit silly, but so much of the body works in tandem with the brain, that if you change one, you can change the other. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing all tell the body to be relaxed. Once you make it a habit, you'll feel the reduction in stress levels. And when stress does come, you'll be able to handle it more calmly and effectively.
  7. 7
    Deal with it. When it comes to stress, it probably won't just go away. You'll need to come up with a way to handle it. In general, there are four ways to think about this:[1]
    • Avoid the stressor
    • Alter the stressor
    • Adapt to the stressor
    • Accept the stressor
      • Thinking of it this way may help you sort your thoughts. Which one is most doable for you? How can you accomplish one of these domains?
    Chloe Carmichael, PhD

    Chloe Carmichael, PhD

    Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    Chloe Carmichael, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist who runs a successful private practice in New York City, focusing on relationship issues, stress management, and career coaching. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University and is the author of the Amazon Bestseller Dr. Chloe’s 10 Commandments of Dating.
    Chloe Carmichael, PhD
    Chloe Carmichael, PhD
    Licensed Clinical Psychologist

    Examine the situation to decide if you need to accept it or change it. According to licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Chloe Carmichael: "If you're feeling stressed, it's either a sign that you need to improve your coping skills, or it's a sign that you need to take action to change your situation. For example, no amount of coping is going to help you deal with an abusive boss, so the healthiest response would be to focus on finding a new job. On the other hand, if you just have a boss who doesn't give you much positive feedback, you might try asking them to clarify their expectations of you."

  8. 8
    Get support. Family, friends, and your social network all have a big impact on how you handle stress. Having a group of people you can lean on can help keep you mentally healthy. However, support can also be something more concrete, like time or money. Even though it's hard to ask for help, it by no means makes you weak. If you're feeling stressed, you can look for support from:
    • Family and friends
    • Coworkers or people you know through hobbies or other interests
    • A professional counselor
    • People you know from church or a member of the clergy
    • Employee assistance programs at work, or stress management classes
    • Support groups

Method Two of Two:
The Outlook

  1. 1
    Find a purpose and balance. Many people find that having meaning to their work (whatever it is) centers them. Being aimless is not comfortable for most people. Find something that drives you and concentrate on it.
    • Once you find what this is, you can change your habits. Anything or anyone that draws you away from what gives you meaning or balance should be limited or cut out entirely.
  2. 2
    Practice positive thinking. It's not a black and white world of thought preceding behavior or vice versa.[4] However, regardless of your school of thought, you have some say in how you feel and interpret things.
    • If positive thinking is hard for you, try to manipulate your behavior. You don't necessarily have to think something genuinely, but act like you do. You may find that your mind follows suit. Try this -- start walking with your head down. How do you feel? Now throw it up. How about now?
    • If positive behaviors are hard for you, drill in on your thoughts. Stop the negative ones. And you can! You are the only person who can stop your negative thoughts. Use that power and replace them with positive (or at least neutral!) ones.
  3. 3
    Be direct. A lot of people have undue amounts of stress in their lives from situations that would resolve themselves if they were just direct about it. Other people (sources of stress) for you may not realize that they are making you pull your hair out. Talk to them.
    • Your happiness is at stake here. Whatever problem it is, if it's stressing you out, it's worth talking about. Your emotions are valid, whatever they are.
  4. 4
    Be willing to say no. It's easy for people-pleasers to get stressed out; obviously, because pleasing everyone is impossible to do. So start saying no to avoid over-committing. You'll have more free time and more time to concentrate on you.
    • If this is an issue for you, practice saying no at least once a week. Don't miss out on the things you enjoy! Just cut down on the activities that make you sacrifice part of your already hectic schedule.
  5. 5
    Stop striving for perfection. We should always push ourselves to do our best, but we also need to realize when the job we've done is good enough. Everyone else judges, so you don't have to be another source of criticism when it comes to you.
    • Set time limits on yourself if you find yourself being a perfectionist. This is where striking a balance comes into play. If you manage your time wisely, you'll have more time to relax.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I overcome stress?
    Community Answer
    • Try to tell yourself positive things like, "Everything is going to be okay," because it is. Try to take deep breaths, get lots of rest, and remember that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how big the tunnel is! Meditation and listening to soothing music may help. You could also try writing down what's bothering you or talking to someone about it.
    Thanks! 8 0
  • Question
    What if someone in my family is stressing me out? Is there anything I could try that won't alter the good parts of our relationship?
    Community Answer
    • When you're stressed out, go take a walk or have a shower/ bath. This will help calm you down and face your issues. Or, you could (calmly) speak to the family member or friend that is stressing you out. It is always best to be honest, and this can help improve your relationship in the future.
    Thanks! 2 0
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About This Article

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
49 votes - 92%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: May 29, 2019
Views: 32,769
Categories: Stress Management
Article Summary

To avoid stress in your life, try to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night, since a lack of sleep can make you easily irritated and on-edge. If you find yourself getting stressed during the day, take a time out as soon as you can to allow yourself to breathe and stop the stress building and building. Try to deal with any problems as soon as possible instead of putting them off for later, since this can add avoidable stress to your life. If you’re overwhelmed by your own stress, don’t be afraid to say no to people who ask for help, since you need to take care of yourself before you can take on other people’s problems.

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