81. Develop your inner strength. If you can gently push your limits when the opportunity arises, you will slowly become mentally and emotionally stronger and therefore better equipped to deal with stress.
82. Discover your life purpose. Your stress could be a sign that your current way of life is not aligned with your purpose. Develop a strong connection with your soul so that you can learn and understand what your purpose in life is, why you are here.
83. Reflect on your day. Review the interactions you had with people during the day. If you were unhappy with the way you behaved or responded to someone, replay the moment in your mind and imagine responding or behaving in a more appropriate way.
84. Sing. Singing can be a beautiful and liberating way to relieve stress. Express yourself loudly or quietly, in public or just in the shower. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a musical bone in your body. You don’t need to be in tune, just have fun.
85. Games. No matter how busy you are, playing card games like Go Fish or board games like Trivia Pursuit can relieve stress. Games that involve large groups like Uno, Twister, or “Pictionary” are particularly good as they encourage interaction with others.
86. Express yourself artistically. Any form of artistic self-expression, such as painting, drawing, or modeling, can be a great way to relieve stress and help you process emotions built up over time and heal painful memories.
87. Maintain a spiritual practice. A personal spiritual practice that nourishes your soul, such as meditation, prayer, or regular visits to your place of worship, is a great approach to improving your emotional health and managing stress.
88. Develop a tough skin. Learn to accept criticism and try not to take it personally. Particularly in a competitive or work environment, don’t view criticism as negative, but rather as constructive feedback that may possibly help you improve yourself or your ability to perform.
89. Speak in positive, low-stress language. Eliminate negative and/or vulgar language from your vocabulary. There are many opportunities and topics to talk positively about during the day, such as the weather, the news, or even thoughts about life.
90. Live in the present. Don’t dwell on the past. Rather learn from the mistakes you have made and the pain you have experienced in the past and move on.
91. Make decisions quickly. Accept the risk, stress, and conflict that come with making decisions. It’s okay to change your mind, but don’t get in the habit of reversing decisions. Try to make decisions that bring about change. Any decision is better than none.
92. Distract yourself. When unpleasant thoughts enter your mind, thoughts that can cause stress, think of someone or something else that cheers you up or relaxes you.
93. Don’t overanalyze events. Stress can arise if you keep examining and reliving a situation or event. By doing this, you risk missing out on the details and perspective of what really happened.
94. Take a hot bath. The heat increases blood circulation to your tissues, including your muscles, which can help you relax.
95. Eliminate or modify irrational beliefs. Your beliefs greatly influence your perception of life. Beliefs like “I’m no good” or “No one cares about me” can contribute significantly to your stress.
96. Look for the opportunity in the crisis. Consider the benefits and rewards you will gain from addressing a problem or challenge. This positive approach will change your perception of the situation and reduce your stress.
97. Make changes slowly. Self-imposed changes can cause stress. Don’t underestimate the importance of change. So if you do make changes, be patient, pace yourself, and change the easy stuff first.
98. Have quiet time on your own. You can take some time at home or at work, anywhere you can get away from others and have time for yourself. Use any relaxation technique you like or just thinking about the subject stresses you out.
99. Develop your negotiation skills. Not only will this help you resolve stressful situations and conflicts, but it will also help you become more confident and assertive. Such skills will help create better personal and professional relationships.
100. Join a social group. Regular participation and interaction within a social group can be a helpful way of coping with stress. It gives you a chance to talk about your problems and help put things in perspective.
101. Is it worth it? Have you been drawn to something that just isn’t worth the stress? Ask why you are doing this. If it’s not worth the stress, then move on.