Keep it Cool, but not Too Cool
As a general rule, you want to keep yourself away from stressful situations. But this does not mean that stress itself can’t serve a useful purpose from time to time.
A Wakeup Call
Stress can be the wake-up call that informs you of the need to end a bad relationship or to mend a good one that’s somehow gone sour.
Stress can get you geared up for the challenge of a big job interview, a big test, a big game.
Stress can even save your life by sharpening your senses while you drive on a busy highway.
So keep it cool, but not too cool: An occasional dose of moderate stress is not only acceptable, but often beneficial.
Big Picture Tips For Avoiding Stress
Avoid unnecessary stress whenever possible.
If, for example, you constantly argue with your younger sister because she dips into your cosmetics bag without asking, try buying some makeup for her.
In a single bold stroke, you will have eliminated a major source of exasperation in your life, displayed your generosity and maturity, restored peace to the household, and perhaps even shamed the little witch into behaving better next time . . . all for the cost of a couple of lipsticks, some eyeliner, and a bottle of mascara.
Be careful, however, that you don’t sidestep life’s necessary challenges in the name of stress avoidance.
If you are struggling with math, for instance, you do yourself no favors by feigning a cold to miss a test in trig. That’s stress deferral, not stress avoidance.
Try to solve your problems, as opposed to dwelling on them.
To pick up our previous example about the trig class, we’d suggest that you respond to your anxieties by taking practical measures to solve the problem that’s behind them—in this case, your weak math skills arid the fear of performing poorly. 
Once you know your priorities, it’s easier to filter out the noise of day-to-day irritations and not allow them to deflect your attention from more meaningful matters.
