Early on in my life, I knew I’d have to figure out some techniques for beating stress. Now, I am not saying that I have mastered these techniques – far from it – but they have helped me a lot.

And as I know a lot of you lovely readers out there deal with bouts of stress and anxiety I thought I’d write a bit of an off-topic post and talk about some ways students, business people and everyone else online can avoid stress when you just don’t feel like its possible.

I genuinely hope it helps someone out there – even if it’s just a catalyst to talk to someone who can help you more.

Being Resilient

All of us have times of stress, loss, failure or trauma in our lives. But how we respond to these has a big impact on our well-being. We often cannot choose what happens to us, but we can choose our own attitude to what happens. In practice, it’s not always easy, but one of the most exciting findings from recent research is that resilience, like many other life skills, can be learned.

Finding Meaning and Purpose

People who have meaning and purpose in their lives are happier, feel more in control and get more out of what they do. They also experience less stress, anxiety, and depression. But where do we find “meaning and purpose”? It might be our religious faith, being a parent or doing a job that makes a difference. The answers vary for each of us, but they all involve being connected to something bigger than ourselves.

Feeling Emotion Positively

Positive emotions—such as joy, gratitude, contentment, inspiration, and pride—are not just great at the time. Recent research shows that regularly experiencing them creates an “upward spiral,” helping to build our resources. So although we need to be realistic about life’s ups and downs, it helps to focus on the good aspects of any situation—the glass half-full rather than the glass half-empty.

Being There for Others

Caring about others is fundamental to our happiness. Helping other people is not only good for them and a great thing to do, but it also makes us happier and healthier, too. Giving also creates stronger connections between people and helps to build a happier society for everyone. And it’s not all about money—we can also give our time, ideas and energy. So if you want to feel good, do good!

Trying Out New Things

Learning affects our well-being in lots of positive ways. It exposes us to new ideas and helps us stay curious and engaged. It also gives us a sense of accomplishment and helps boost our self-confidence and resilience. There are many ways to learn new things—not just through formal qualifications. We can share a skill with friends, join a club, learn to sing, play a new sport and so much more.

Noticing and Appreciating the World Around You

Ever felt that there must be more to life? Well, good news, there is! And it’s right here in front of us. We just need to stop and take notice. Learning to be more mindful and aware can do wonders for our well-being in all areas of life—like our walk to work, the way we eat or our relationships. It helps us get in tune with our feelings and stops us from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, so we get more out of the day-to-day.

Connecting with People

Relationships are the most important overall contributor to happiness. People with strong and broad social relationships are happier, healthier and live longer. Close relationships with family and friends provide love, meaning, and support, and increase our feelings of self-worth. Broader networks bring a sense of belonging. So taking action to strengthen our relationships and create new connections is essential for happiness.

Taking Care of the Body

Our bodies and minds are connected. Being active makes us happier as well as being good for our physical health. It instantly improves our mood and can even lift us out of a depression. We don’t all need to run marathons; there are simple things we can all do to be more active each day. We can also boost our well-being by unplugging from technology, getting outside and making sure we get enough sleep!