Hey you! Yeah you, avid blog reader! Look around yourself right now and try to spot stress. Is stress that annoying rattling coming from your office neighbors desk? How about that big scary guy that comes into your office and says "We pay you to work, not look at memes!" Or maybe your stress stems from having 3 papers, a blog post, and a bio-chem exam all due within three days. Whatever your situation, stress is very real and very different for each individual. Stress can come in many different forms, and they aren't always obvious. Side effects of chronic stress include but are not limited to digestive issues, heart disease, sleep problems, weight management issues, depression, as well as many others. However, with a little help and determination, this blog will aid you in avoiding these issues!

O.K. so so the first thing you are going to want to do is pre-set the oven to 450 degrees. Wait, I'm getting word that this isn't the blog about cooking. Regardless, this instruction can work for you, stressed out reader. Did you know that stress can often times stem directly from your external environment? This environment is what we science folk refer to as a territory! A territory can be any physical setting, ranging from your bedroom to your work space. As I am sure you are well aware, different places have different feelings attached. Staying in a toxic environment too long is one of the easiest ways to suffer from the stress that is present.

There are numerous studies that show a simple switch of tasks can help restore directed attention, so it should come as no surprise that switching territories would have larger implications. As for myself, I like being in the kitchen cooking food. Whenever I am stressed out, I like to just grab some ingredients out of the refrigerator, pretend I'm on Hell's Kitchen (minus Gordon Ramsay) and go to town making a dish. Since I am not really thinking about what I am doing, rather just letting it flow, I get a sense of directed attention restoration. On top of that, I can usually take out my frustrations on the food. By simply removing myself from a negative or even neutral territory and placing myself in one that I enjoy, stress reduction is guaranteed.

So you may be wondering what a good territory for you is. There actually is no "good" or "correct" territory, because what relieves stress for one may not be the same for all. The important thing is that you go out and try to find a territory that works for you. It is best if the territory promotes self improvement and not self degradation. For example, hiding in your room instead of taking that bio-chem exam may not be the best time to go to your stress relieving territory. If you are one of those people that think they are not good at anything or don't really like anything, don't fret! There are territories that are considered universally restorative. Nature for instance is a great territory to go to when coping with stress, but if you don't like the outdoors, it may not be that restorative for you. However, if you do enjoy the outdoors, there are many different things you can try. Engaged walking, yoga, and meditation are a few. A great take away point is that stress is a natural part of life, but it is a very manageable part as well. Engage with your stress, and learn what works for you when trying to relieve it. It's best to confront it, rather than put it under a rock and hope it won't come back.
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