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Being stressed out is an unpleasant experience that everyone has, well….experienced, from time to time. Whether its over financial difficulties, or a relationship problem, its tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you’re in the midst of it. In my experience there are a few small things you can do to help yourself snap out of it:

Pick up a ball: My personal favorite. Don’t worry about how immature you look, or what the neighbors will think. Pick up a tennis ball and start playing. Throw it against the wall, throw it straight up. Find a fence and pitch against it for a while. Whatever you do, I’ve found it hard to stay stressed-out when I’m playing a game.

Read a book: If you enjoy reading, relaxing with a good book can be just that, relaxing. If you despise reading, and have poor eyesight, well then perhaps this solution isn’t for you, so read on.

Call a positive person: Too often when feeling blue, people call friends who are likely to be just as negative as they are. If you know whenever you call Jenny, she has a more depressing story than you do, don’t call her. Instead, call Amanda, Amanda is always positive. She always tries to give you a helpful solution, and she never lets you wallow.

Walk: Go for a walk, specifically in the woods. I’ve found that a long walk on the street is rarely a relaxing experience. A good long walk through a secluded (but safe) trail is often just what the doctor ordered. Leave your iPod at home, you’ll get a lot of problem-solving done if you’re alone with your thoughts.

Take a nap: Psychologists would probably argue with this one, there is likely some awful reason not to take a nap when you’re depressed. I don’t care, this is my list, I find that a nice hour-long nap will usually snap me out of whatever funk I was in. However, I do not believe simply laying in bed for hours is healthy, so if you don’t fall asleep in the first fifteen or twenty minutes, get up and pick something else from this list.

Eat something healthy: Eat something, but not junk food. Eating junk food will just leave you further in the dumps when the sugar-high fades and you realize how many calories you just consumed. Try a salad, or a piece of fresh fruit.

Watch a comedic movie: I never understand why people watch depressing movies when they’re depressed. It’s as if they don’t want to feel better. Instead of picking up that tear-jerker, go for a goofy comedy. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, it just has to make you smile.

Complete a few small tasks: A lot of times I feel depressed when I feel powerless. Completing a few small tasks, (cleaning my desk, washing a few dishes, planting flowers), usually makes me feel quite a bit better. It sort of reminds my brain that I do still have control over a lot of things in my life, and helps me to better focus on them.

In conclusion, these are all things that have worked for me. I hope they may help you, and if they do, or they don’t, feel free to leave a comment. Also feel free to add your own.