Turn that frown upside down. Make lemonade out of lemons. Always look on the bright side. There’s a lot of ways to say “cheer up,” but when the stress of everyday life, or of a certain situation, is overwhelming, these phrases can turn hurtful, not to mention, annoying. The magic of transforming stress into something positive is in the doing, not the saying. So, how do we turn ourselves around when we’re in a bad place?

Stress has become a common issue among Americans, especially the past few years. Common stresses like work overwhelm (long hours, too much responsibility, lack of interest in work, facing harassment or discrimination), death, moving, getting married, losing a job, or money issues all contribute to our mental and physical load. That’s before the traumatic events of the past three years. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly seven in ten adults have had physical effects due to stress in 2022, including overwhelm, sleeplessness, and constant worry.

Our world has changed tremendously with everything from COVID, inflation, politics, and environment, and trying to stay level, mentally and physically, can be difficult, says Harvard Medical School. As you get older, managing stress can become even more difficult, says the article. When you put your immune system into constant “fight or flight” response, your long term health can be at risk. Diseases like dementia, heart disease and stroke are just a few of them. More commonly, though, stress can present itself in headaches, exhaustion, anxiety, digestive problems, and high blood pressure, says the Cleveland Clinic. Many people try to manage their stress in unhealthy ways through alcohol, food, drugs, sex, and shopping, says the article, but there are so many great resources everyone can access instead.

Part of the key to “turning stress around” is first understanding that stress is normal, says the Cleveland Clinic. When changes occur, good or bad, our body and mind respond. Feeling stress is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s when it’s all the time that it becomes not so great. Start with the basics to keep stress levels down, says the article; a regular sleep schedule, fueling your body with good food, exercise, even a short walk, and setting reachable daily goals for yourself.

When you do inevitably encounter stress, take time to recognize it and acknowledge it without judgment. Try not to immediately act on this stress. Harvard Business Review says the next step should be for you to reframe your stress, especially in a more positive light. This can help broaden your thinking to find more possibilities on how to solve the issue.

Practicing Self-Care

Taking care of your baseline is the first step, then you can move on to more self-care. Meditation, yoga or tai chi, and learning to say no to things you cannot do are excellent ways to care for your mental health. If you are feeling constantly overwhelmed or are coping with stress in an unhealthy way, it may be time to talk to a therapist who can help you sort out your feelings, says the article. Those in Bend can look to The Blissful Heart Wellness Center for counselors and therapists, ready to talk to you.

Self-care culture has us buying candles, taking countless bubble baths, and most often just shopping for things we don’t need. What self-care is really about is taking the time to figure out what makes you happy, not someone else, or a company, says Everyday Health. If bubble baths are your thing, by all means. However, if painting, or dancing, or writing, or hiking makes you feel better, then skip the candles and go straight to the easel. It’s your time, your mind, your body. Do what feels right to you.

In our current world, there’s a lot to be stressed about. There’s also a lot to be happy about, too. It may take some time and practice, but taking care of yourself, mentally and physically, is the best way to combat stress, and turn that frown upside down. Or, you know, a phrase that’s less annoying.

Transforming Stress into Something Positive

Practicing Self-Care