How To Stress - Page 2

3. No Exercising

Exercise releases endorphins, which make you happy, which makes you less stressed. Sweating out your troubles has obvious health benefits, too, so you have one less thing to stress about. You have my permission to gasp in horror. So, in order to keep that stress mentality going, you must sacrifice the exercise for "stress eating."

This may sound counterproductive, because you are going to the comfort food to stop the stress. But the truth of the matter is that gorging on cake can only help your stress. It may provide a small satisfaction at first, but if you aren’t finished with whatever you are stressed about, you’ll only go back for more cake. Then you’ll feel angry for giving in and guilty for enjoying it. At the peak of your mountain of stress, you will become anxious about fitting into that new dress you bought, thus completing the cycle of stress.

4. Never Say No

After a stressful week of school and/or work, it may be tempting to take a quiet evening to yourself. Reading a book on the couch, taking a bubble bath, ordering from your favorite take-out place, or simply going to bed early are all ways those silly relaxed people recharge. What they don’t tell you is that they are skipping out on life.

These people tell their poor Aunt Sally they are too busy to attend her weekly quilting circle. They say “no” to charity functions, monster fraternity parties, and anyone else who dares to come between them and their “me time.” And they don’t even feel guilty about it!

The best way to stress is to allow zero free time. If you sit still for an instant you may try to relax and, honey, you don’t have the time for that! After work, you are meeting potential investors for a drink. Then you’ll change and rush out the door to your boyfriend’s house party. Stumble home at 4 a.m., wake up at 6 a.m. to help cure cancer by participating in a marathon (you walk, because you’ve given up exercise), have lunch with your mother, go to a friend’s baby shower, then dinner and dancing with the girls. And that’s only through Saturday. You can relax when you’re dead - carpe diem!

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Article Author: Stephanie Rasch

Stephanie Rasch is a Professional Writing junior at some random university in the Midwest. Her interests include reading, rock-climbing, traveling, dancing and skydiving. She hopes one day to master teleportation to avoid long lines at the airport and eliminate long-distance relationships. …

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Article comments

  • 1 - Joanne Huspek

    Oct 31, 2008 at 10:00 am

    Gee, I guess I earned an A++.

    :-)

  • 2 - Dr. Juliann Mitchell, PhD

    Oct 31, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    Well at least I know I can do "Stress" correctly.
    Thanks for the article.

  • 3 - Phillip Winn

    Oct 31, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    People still wear watches?

    I mean, sure, strap an Omega to your wrist in a fit of conspicuous consumption, but other than that, a watch? Really?

    That's what mobile phones are for! Always accurate, always with you!

    Great article, by the way. I recognize my own generally low-stress lifestyle in the antithesis.

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