Dealing with Stress

A key way to handle stress is not to avoid life's challenges, but to deal with them head-on, the Cleveland Clinic says.

The clinic offers these suggestions for women:

• Deal directly with challenging situations, instead of avoiding them.
• Accept and embrace change as an opportunity to learn.
• Focus on the present, rather than worrying about the future.
• Trust your instincts and listen to what your "gut" tells you.
• Honor and accept yourself.
• Don't be afraid to seek professional help when you need it.

Tips to Manage Stress

Stress can bring you down emotionally, and it can also affect your physical health. The American Heart Association offers these suggestions for dealing with stress:

• Talk to yourself in a positive way. Say to yourself, "I'll do the best I can," when dealing with a significant problem or task.
• Find things that make you happy, and do them often, whether it's beginning a craft project, watching a favorite movie or a taking on a new hobby.
• Relax yourself each day, using techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga.
• Carry out activities to help stop stress as it occurs, such as by taking a quick walk or stepping away from a problem for a few minutes.