Do you feel like a victim of modern day stress? Are you drowning in the sea of society expectations, family pressures, work deadlines? Do you find yourself losing temper and getting irritated, ending up making poor decisions?

We spend half our lives stressed, why not concentrate on turning this bad stress into good stress. Researchers say stress in small doses can actually be good. Stress is a form of energy that makes you avoid the accident when you suddenly see a car in front of you. Stress when channelled in the correct direction can motivate you to achieve your goals. It is possible to change your perception of the stressors in your life, and this shift in perception can change your experience of stress!

It is believed that anxious people prepare themselves ahead of time and are ready with precautions in case of emergencies. The unpleasant feeling of stress forces you to do something about it, to change the situation for the better. You can also have a positive outlook about stressing for future outcomes, it will only prepare you for the bad news or make good news seem even better. However, extreme worrying is harmful to your health; repetitive thoughts have been associated with depressed mood, poor physical health, and even mental illness.

The trick that works for me is to list the stressors and plan for the next steps to prevent bad things from happening. You don’t have to indulge in comforting habits like junk food, or drugs to relieve your stress. Now is a good time to let go of the negativity and instead, learn to move forward. Accept whatever happened, and allow yourself to move from the past to the present. You start creating a positive future by moving forward.

Given stress is inevitable, we have some simple ideas for a healthy and happy life:

1. Exercise boosts endorphins (feel-good neurotransmitters) and helps shed daily tensions.
2. Sleeping well helps improve mood and reduces stress.
3. Meditation and yoga, makes you calm and peaceful even after only a few minutes.
4. Music releases certain chemicals like Dopamine, a “feel-good hormone” in the brain.
5. Spending time in nature helps distract and is proven to induce happiness and higher cognitive performance.
6. Less time on phones and other electronic devices equal happier people and more satisfaction with their lives.
7. Delegate the less important work and only focus on your priorities, make to-do lists accordingly.
8. Meeting your loved ones, playing with a pet or a baby, helps you relax and blow off your steam.

With these awesome tips, I hope you agree that stress can be good and prepare yourselves to channel your stress in the positive direction. If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If broken by an inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from the inside.

Image Source: Akil Daily