handle stress

Sometimes, in the midst of life's hustle and bustle, psyching oneself is essential. With all the things happening in my life right now, especially at work, how do I handle stress?

1. Psyching Oneself: I nag myself. Yes, you read it right. I enumerate the reasons why I shouldn't be stressed out. Stress is related to 99% of all illness. Pimples. Heartburn. Dry skin. Sleepless nights. And the list goes on.

2. Techie Frenzy: It's either the Ipod or the computer. I either turn up the volume of my Ipod as I listen and usually, sing with my playlist. In most cases, I will be sitting infront of the computer - downloading, web surfing or digiscrapping. But just recently, I realized how stress-relieving playing computer games is! (My current addictions are Return to Ravenhearst and Forgotten Riddles --- both are mystery and puzzle type games.)

3. Forward-Not-Backward: I look forward. I anticipate how beautiful life can be after a stressful situation. I picture the exact scenario. I visualize the moment when being thankful for the experience is felt.

4. The Other Half: I am and will always be grateful for having my husband. I spent last Sunday doing nothing but sleep while he, again, did all the household chores. He knows when I simply want to be hugged. He knows when I just want to be quiet. He knows when I feel like ranting and cursing. He knows when my tears just have to roll down. At all times, he is there walking with me, holding my hand.

In a strange way, stress teaches us more about life, than we can ever think of. Wether we like it or not, we all go through it. It's only a matter of how we handle stress that makes so much difference.