Are you stressed? Then read this!

How to relieve stress. Written by me:

1. Have a balanced diet. Sometimes we stuff ourselves with to much fast food, to much junk food, to much of this and too much of that that we fail to achieve balance. We don't eat fruits, we rarely drink plain water. We eat too much meat or sometimes we just skip our meals. I recommend eating 3 times a day. A light breakfast, a medium lunch and a heavy dinner.
2. Have an organized life. Sometimes the main causes if stress is the feeling that we are losing control of our lives. Not having an organized schedule causes this. We don't have discipline, we do our work with no quality, and we tend to waste alot of our time wasting it doing pointless things. Try keeping a schedule.
3. Have plenty of sleep. Sleeping renews our cells. It rejuvenates and heals. It keeps us happy, healthy and young. The problem for most of us, is that we sleep so late and wake up in a bad mood and we end up being unproductive the next day. Studying could be done before 10 pm and certainly not after it. I know a few friends who study at the break of dawn. Their results are totally superb!
4. Near yourself to God. All the blessings we receive in this world comes from God. Show gratitude by doing what ought to be done.
5. Don't bottle up. Having problems and not sharing it is one of the main reasons of depression. Bottling up your problems is like heating up a gas canister. When it explodes, it gets pretty messy. Sharing problems and discussing them with close friends help you not only know yourself more but also opens yourself more to the differing opinions of people around you.
6. Help others in need. This may sound weird, but the effect of helping people around you, relieving their burdens, and making them succeed is very therapeutic. It gives you the feeling of being appreciated and being a part of the society. Doesn't mean that we have to go to a third world country or an old folks home to do charity. Charity begins with your neighbors and family.
7. Do some physical activities. Some of us find excitement in competitive sports and some of us don't. The thing is that, find a physical sport that suits you and do it. As long as it keeps you happy and your heart pumping.
8. Be a team player. Being in a team be it at school or work makes you feel important. Studying or working alone makes you feel not confident and not on track to what you are doing. Studying and working together keeps you in focus and provides more intellectual and cultural exchanges.
9. Be positive and optimistic. In school we are taught not to be cruel with others, to forgive others, to love and care for others. But we are rarely taught not to be cruel to YOURSELF, to forgive YOURSELF and to care for YOURSELF. Being pessimistic is being cruel to yourself. Never say that you are stupid for stupidity will come if you say so. Never say that you are fat, because fat will come the more you say it. Never say you are worthless, for you will be worthless the more you say it.
10. Reflect on yourself. (Muhasabah diri). Every night before you sleep, always reflect on what you did today. Always set a target, that tomorrow you will be better than who you were today.

copyright: Farid Hadri