Stress: an emotional, intellectual, or physical reaction to change or demands.

Stress. Some use it as a crutch, some as a windmill to flail against, others as a rallying cry, there are those who are motivated by it…but most of us simply just do not like it. Quarter lifer stress can be harmful…and chronic unrelieved stress can cause headaches, backaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, depression and potentially serious physical problems. And seriously bum out those around you. I know…my girlfriend is doing her PhD dissertation and she is so wound tight! As Ferris Bueller once said, “If you took a lump of coal and stuck it up…” Okay she might read this article. I will stop there.

Back to the topic at hand; stress. Take relieving it seriously! Or working with it that is. Certain stress balls, can be unwound for positive motivation and attainment of goals.

Your choice. If you would like to tear your co-worker a new USB port, bury that little seed of doubtful anger until you can release it as a full blown Xanax addiction or handle things in…GET THIS…a mature, grown up manner…well again, up to you.

As a ¼ life type, I do not have to lecture on how ya face many changes and challenges. You may experience problems with your roommates, significant others, demanding social load, pursuing a boss’s dream of a perfect TPS coversheet and face tough competition making minimum credit card payments.

In adjusting to the stressful situations and the independent lifestyle of an up and coming 20-something, keep in mind three important anti-stressful concepts:

Cooperation
Change
Consequences

Cooperation
Taking advantage of the cooperation, the partnership with your life and its resources which can be found on campus, with family and friends, in the cubicle farm, doctor/therapist’s couch, church, meditation, the gym, a walk in the park…is another uber important factor in controlling stress. NO matter the kind of stress, its levels, already past consequences, the good or bad changes already wrought…you are never really alone. Cooperate with those who care, those entities of support and yourself to reduce, relax and render stress harmless…or at least livable levels…with or without developing an OCD complex.

Change
It is important to remember one thing everyday of your life. Change is inevitable and a good thing. The first visible, in your face sign (literally) occurs every morning when you wake up and look in the mirror. Things change. And that ill advised, final Jaeger bomb from last night, definitely brought change.

If you are sad or happy at the recent changes in your life…don’t give up and do not get too comfortable. Give it s day or two and you will be surprised at just what might happen. With each passing sunrise to sunset, some of the hard new edges of the unfamiliar or soft cushions of the familiar quarter life will slightly or majorly, big time alter. Many changes are under your control. Regardless of such, the ability to adapt to change provides a great opportunity to learn skills for coping with that above mentioned original problem…stress. Sum up…change is constant…deal with it.

Consequences
Every decision you make will have certain repercussions. We can thank Newton for summing it up. For every action there is an equally, easily just as awesome or fucked up reaction. Okay…maybe not a direct quote. Just remember even though the decisions you make will be up to you, the results aren’t always as easily controlled. Whenever you find yourself facing a decision, think it through. Carefully consider the options and the consequences before you move forward, and a new independent, less stress life will be more manageable. The decision is yours…and so are the results…good or bad.

Okay…I have to say the following. Ya know…beginning of the year, resolutions, getting healthy, rerun marathons of The Biggest Loser, vows to stop being a Facebook potato…

Effective stress management includes healthy diet and exercise habits. Exercising gives you a break from the mental and emotional strain one experiences while helping to reduce physical tension. It will also increase your stamina and your overall physical well being. In addition minimize such behaviors as overeating, excessive drinking, smoking, or using mood-altering drugs — all of which are detrimental to your health. Whew…that took a lot of effort to say…because I so often do not follow my own advice.

Finally, don’t overwork yourself; all work and no play can cause you to feel stressed out, irritable and less motivated. Schedule time for rest, social activities, recreation and relaxation.

Don’t let your quarter years “stress” you out. Recognize situations that may cause stress, develop effective ways to manage’em and seek help if you need it. Cooperate with the change so the consequences benefit you and those you care about.