Coping Strategies Make an Appointment Ask a Question Search Conditions Stress is a normal part of life and something you cannot control, however you can control your response to stress. Here are seven ways to deal with stress: Keep a positive attitude – sometimes the way you think about things can make all of the difference. Your attitude can help offset difficult situations. Accept that there are events you cannot control – when you know there are times when you have given all that you can to a situation, it allows you to expend energy where it can be more effective. Learn to relax – purposeful relaxation, such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation and meditation is essential in training your body to relax. Relaxation should be a part of your daily regimen. Be active regularly – being active also helps your body more easily fight stress because it is fit. Eat well-balanced meals – staying on track with healthy eating habits is a great way to manage stress. Rest and sleep - your body needs time to recover from stressful events, so sleep is an important part of caring for yourself. Find your stressors and effective ways to cope with them - remember that you can learn to control stress because stress comes from how you respond to stressful events. This information has been approved by Amy Lukowski, PsyD (February 2015).