Stress used to be a big component of my life. So here's some things I did.
First thing, Ditch the watch. - You won't want to do it, you'll go kicking and screaming before you do it, but if you want to get rid of stress, lose it. You'll develop a sense of time pretty quick, but here's the deal, when you have that thing on you, it's like a shackle. You stop living day by day and go to hours, then minutes, then seconds. Its a bigger stressor than you realize.
Sleep! Maybe the first month you'll end up sleeping 10-12 hours a day. suck it up and let it happen. Most people nowadays by the time they hit 25 don't have a sleep debt anymore, they have a sleep mortgage. Within 2-3 weeks, you'll likely be beating the alarm clock by a few minutes.
Develop routines and rituals. If you do the same actions in teh same order each morning when you wake up, such as get up, pee, shower, shave, make breakfast, exercise, get dressed, then thats 6 things you can stop thinking and worrying about and planning for every day. go from there.
Realize that "letting things go" is a farce. That's justification talk for swallowing it up mentally and emotionally. That stuff starts to fester on a person in time. If you're angry, BE ANGRY! Redirect it someplace that won't get you in trouble. Sure, maybe you'll have to simmer for a few hours, but keep that anger up front, go home and beat teh crap out of punching bag, play video games and shoot everything in sight, but do something to RELEASE IT. Note, inhaling pizzas is not an answer.
Realize you're going to cop what you put out there. If you constantly put negativity out there, you're going to inherit a lot of it in return. That's why I feel sorry for those misguided souls that claim to be 'brutally honest' Since that's just language that people who are generally insensitive assholes with little regard for others say to make themselves feel better. They get a lot of it back in return whether they realize it or not. Notice those are generally some rather miserable people all around.
Ignore reality for a little while. It only works on guys, but every day after you take a shower, look at yourself in a full body mirror and just exclaim "God DAMN I got a big dick". I don't care if you're sporting a whole quarter inch, believe me, you'll feel better most of the day.
Want an honest gauge of your mood? Look in the mirror, actually make eye contact with yourself. What do you see and what impression do you get. Others are getting the same impression.
Realize that a number of things that you think about the world or what others are doing aren't really true, its something you're doing. If you think the world has turned its back on you, usually, its you've turned your back on the world.
Deny your brainwashing, farts are funny. Just don't get carried away. Even the most highbrow and refined British humor isn't above and will include a well placed fart joke.
Maturity isn't about refinement, manners and putting on a facade for others. Its knowing when its time to be immature. Remember that.
It's ok to be someone else for a while. You know the difference between a hobby and an obsession? the price tag. hobbies usually cost more. Make you like building model sailing ships, hey, let your imagination go and be that salty captain at sea. . Play guitar like you're a rock star on stage, even if in your own mind. Escapaism is a normal human trait.
