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101 Ways to Cope with Stress


  1. Simplify meal times
  2. Set priorities in life
  3. Dance
  4. Do it today
  5. Use time wisely
  6. Look at challenges differently
  7. Be aware of the decisions you make
  8. Find support from others
  9. Memorize a joke
  10. Unclutter your life
  11. Smile
  12. Plant a tree 
  13. Read a poem
  14. Go to a ball game and scream
  15. Learn to whistle a tune
  16. Say "no" more often
  17. Play in the rain
  18. Read a story while curled up in bed
  19. Go on a picnic
  20. Take stock of your achievements
  21. Work at being cheerful and optimistic
  22. Put on your favorite clothes
  23. Feed the birds
  24. Strive for excellence NOT perfection
  25. Look for the silver lining
  26. Schedule play time into every day
  27. Get to work or class early
  28. Have a support network of people, place, and things
  29. Practice preventive maintenance
  30. Share a meal with a friend
  31. Look up at the stars
  32. Prepare for the morning the night before
  33. Quit trying to "fix" other people
  34. Say hello to a stranger
  35. Schedule appointments ahead
  36. Recognize the importance of unconditional love
  37. Stand up and stretch
  38. Stop a bad habit
  39. Clean out one closet
  40. Put safety first
  41. Ask a friend for a hug
  42. Repair anything that doesn't work
  43. Believe in yourself
  44. Look at a work of art
  45. Practice grace under pressure
  46. Stop saying negative things to yourself
  47. Ask for help with the jobs you dislike
  48. Always make copies of important papers
  49. Know your limitations, and let others know them too
  50. Learn the words to a new song
  51. Throw a paper airplane
  52. Listen to a symphony
  53. Stretch your limits a little each day
  54. Watch a movie and eat popcorn
  55. Fly a kite
  56. Name three things you like about yourself
  57. Pet a friendly dog or cat 
  58. Get enough sleep
  59. Remember that stress is an attitude
  60. Avoid relying on chemical aids
  61. Leave work early (with permission)
  62. Buy yourself flowers
  63. Watch a ballet
  64. Put air freshener in your car
  65. Avoid negative people
  66. Visualize yourself winning
  67. Learn to meet your own needs
  68. Keep a journal
  69. Don't rely on your memory-write it down
  70. Take a bubble bath
  71. Make a duplicate set of keys (for those "I've lost my keys" moments)
  72. Ask someone to be your "vent-partner"
  73. Have goals for yourself
  74. Practice a monster smile
  75. Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight
  76. Exercise everyday
  77. Get up 15 minutes earlier
  78. Read or watch something funny
  79. Break large tasks into bite-size ones
  80. Become a better listener
  81. Anticipate your needs
  82. Say something nice to someone
  83. Have a plan "B"
  84. Remember you always have options
  85. Hum your favorite tune
  86. Freely praise other people
  87. Do something new today
  88. Take a different route to work or school or home
  89. Be responsible for your feelings
  90. Don't know all the answers
  91. Tell someone to have a good day
  92. Meditate or pray
  93. Feel the sun on your face
  94. Color, draw, or doodle
  95. Do a puzzle
  96. Make healthy snacks for tomorrow
  97. Go to a yoga class
  98. Contact an old friend
  99. Take a five-minute break
  100. Express gratitude
  101. Breathe

BONUS: Relax, take each day at a time...you have the rest of your life to live

-Adapted from Tripler Army Medical Center 101 Ways to Cope with Stress

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