Even if it's your instinct to please everyone, that doesn't mean exclude yourself. Schaffer recommends setting boundaries -- saying no when you have to and thinking about your well being when asked for favors beyond what you can handle. After all, stress is an internal issue; so putting yourself first is key to handling it.
"If the idea of staying at work until 9 p.m. to finish a project or if hosting relatives in your apartment has you crawling the walls, plan to accommodate everyone, including yourself," says Schaffer. "This can be by getting work done earlier in the day or telling your family you have a limited time to spend with them."
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Eat Healthy
I repeat, eat healthy. When you're stressed out, the first thing you want to do is drown yourself in the foods that make you happy. But before you reach for junk, think about treating your body to something tasty and healthy.
"When we eat better, we feel better," says Schaffer. "When we feel better, we're better prepared to handle stressful situations. Short term clutches like caffeine and sugar give you a temporary jolt, but often come with side effects of poor sleep or crashes in energy. This along with stress weakens our immune system and if you skip meals or [fill] your body with junk food you're more likely to get sick."
Now, if you're anything like me, going full out health nut isn't easy. But adding healthier options into your meals can help you reap a multitude of stress-reducing benefits.
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Face the Truth
What's the ugly truth about stress? At times it causes us to be in denial. McMeekin says to own up to the things causing you stress instead of sweeping them under the rug.
"Face the truth," says McMeekin. "If you hate your job, you are in debt, your marriage is not fulfilling, you are not doing your creative work, and your health needs your attention, you can meditate all you want, but you must tackle these issues in order to relieve the stress." Even though these are complicated issues, facing them head on is more beneficial in the long run.
Stress for me is pretty much a constant. With dozens of lists constantly running through my head and never enough time to check everything off, my nerves are racked. Of course, it probably doesn't help that I plan everything from my workout schedule to my closet organization. I even plan my 30-minute power nap -- which usually just turns into a stress session full of additional list making.
On the outside, it probably just looks like I'm highly organized. But with my brain on overload 24 hours a day, it's tough to just unwind once in a while. I may have a neat desk and color-coordinated Post-It notes, but at what cost?
Maybe it sounds worse than it is, but like I said, I'm stressed out. That's why I mustered up the courage to go out and ask the experts for some help. As you might have guessed, stress is something just about everyone deals with, but unless it's managed it can weaken your immune system or lead to other health problems -- which is reason enough to go to the pros.
Linden Schaffer, a certified Wellness Expert and founder of Pravassa, a wellness company based in New York City, revealed her tips on how to breathe easy even during the most stress-inducing moments. I also got some insight from Gail McMeekin, founder and president of Creative Success, LLC, and the author of book, "The Power of Positive Choices." Through some much needed advice (and a little tough love) I came up with five tips that'll help you de-stress and minimize your feelings of stress as it occurs. Trust me, they're worth every click.
