Stress is a common thing that can take over many of our lives. Stress can come from almost anywhere, such as work, school, family, friends, or anything else. Finding things that make you feel calm and relaxed is an important aspect of keeping yourself mentally healthy and happy. I have recently taken solace in a book called Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all small stuff by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. The book is set up in 100 two or three page segments of different ways to think about stress relief. I haven’t read all of them, but I have read a majority and have an idea of which ones I felt helped me more than others. Different people mind be helped by different sections, but here are some that I like most:

Make Peace with Imperfection: The first time I read this section, I was pleased with how beneficial these simple words were to me while I was a bit stressed. I am a perfectionist, so it was refreshing to read about how doing things perfectly is not always the key to complete euphoria.

Let go of the Idea that Gentle, Relaxed People Can’t Be Superachievers: I was so satisfied with this piece because of how the standard for life is that in order to be successful, you have to be extremely busy, leading to an uptight personality. This selection provided me with the peace of mind that I don’t have to feel stressed 24/7 and can still achieve great things.

If Someone Throws You the Ball, You Don’t Have to Catch It: This is one of my favorite sections in the book. It speaks to the reader about how it is impossible for you to please everyone else while still being happy with your own life. The author writes about how when there are so many things you have to do, especially when most are not your problems, you become restless and stressed. You don’t have to please everyone and that is okay.

Although I only selected three of my favorites from the book, there are so many more than that that seem to calm me down. Some of the sections in the book don’t intrigue me because they might not apply to the current situation. But as I move through the rest of this year, I strive to read all 100 entries in the book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a simple way to take a break from the stress of life.