None of us will ever be stress free. But that doesn’t mean we have to meekly accept any new stress heading our way. There are plenty of ways to prevent certain kinds of stress and minimize the effects of stress that you have to live with.

An ounce of prevention

There are some big, but easy, steps you can take to head off stress before it becomes part of your life. Try the following:

• Be decisive. If you can’t decide about something, then make a list. Write down all the options available and the consequences of each — including the consequences of not making a decision.
• Don’t procrastinate. You’re probably not at your best when you’re under pressure, so why create that kind of stress for yourself? Get stuff done so that your to-do list doesn’t pile up.
• Delegate. Despite what you may think, you don’t have to do everything. Delegate responsibilities and the potential stress that may come with them.

Combine efforts for stress prevention

Many of the things that you do to help reduce your stress can also be used to prevent stress from happening in the first place:

• Shoot for balance. Make personal and professional lifestyle changes aimed at eliminating potential sources of stress
• Prioritize. Get the important stuff done first. The not-so-important stuff doesn’t carry the potential for nearly as much stress.
• Exercise, eat well and get enough sleep. All these things will help you feel better and think clearly.
• Get some down time. Make sure you have “me time” to relax and recharge.
• Get help. Turn to family and friends and explore ways to prevent or minimize stress. You can also search “stress” in Find Support for support groups in your area.

Maintain your perspective

At times, just getting bogged down in the details of our daily lives can create stress. To prevent this, find ways to step back:

• Be realistic. You can’t control everything all the time. And trying to do the impossible will create stress.
• Be good to yourself. Ongoing positive reinforcement helps create an effective barrier to stress.
• Yuk it up. When it comes to stress, laughter is preventative medicine since it helps you see the lighter side of things.
• Build friendships. Good friends can always help you see things from a broader point of view.
• Enjoy time with a pet. Caring for a pet can also help you relax, step back and gain perspective on your life.

Come up with a game plan that makes sense for you and start taking charge of your stress.