Article: An overall healthy lifestyle, including a healthy and balanced diet, can help you better manage stress and make you feel better in general. Part of eating a balanced diet requires you to make good choices about what kinds of foods you eat and how much you eat in each meal.  For each meal, approximately half of your plate should consist of fruits and vegetables. Most adults should be eating six to eight ounces of grains each day. When you eat grains, choose whole grains instead of refined grains.  Make sure you eat five to six-and-a-half ounces of lean protein each day, depending on your age and sex. That can include tofu, beans, eggs, nuts/seeds, poultry, fish, or lean meat.  Try to limit yourself to five or six teaspoons of oil (or the equivalent) each day. When you do use oils, opt for plant-based oils (like coconut, palm oil, and olive oil), as these have very little if any cholesterol.  Opt for low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and aim to get about three cups of dairy (or non-dairy substitutes) per day. . Your quantity and quality of sleep can affect your ability to cope with stress throughout the day. Make sure you're getting enough sleep each night, and take steps to ensure that the sleep that you get is restful.  Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, though some individuals may need even more sleep to feel fully rested. Follow a sleep schedule, even on weekends and before days off.  Find something to do before bed that relaxes you. Try to make it a nightly ritual. Block light out of your room using thick curtains or blinds. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening, as it can easily interrupt your normal sleep schedule. Alcohol can also affect your sleep. It's best to avoid drinking in order to protect your quality of sleep. Turn off or avoid all electronic products at least 30 minutes before bed. The glare of a cellphone, computer, tablet, or television screen can suppress your body's melatonin production and upset your circadian rhythm.  Keep your room on the cool side, but not so cold that you're uncomfortable. Experts generally recommend keeping your bedroom between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 to 19.5 degrees Celsius), but if you need it slightly warmer go with what's most comfortable. Many people believe that indulging in drugs or alcohol will help relieve stress. While the temporary euphoria associated with intoxication may feel relaxing in the moment, it can actually create far more problems than it's worth.  Getting intoxicated instead of working through stressful situations can cause you to have trouble dealing with stress in the future. Over time it reduces your ability to successfully cope with your day-to-day stress. Drinking or doing drugs to cope with stress can quickly lead to addiction and dependency. In addition to addiction, drug and alcohol abuse can also lead to other health problems. Rather than seeking a quick "solution," it's best to learn how to cope with stress and find healthier ways to relax and calm down. One of the best lifestyle changes you can make to reduce stress and feel happier in general is to practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude does not mean ignoring your problems or pretending they don't exist. Instead, you work to change the way you approach day-to-day stress.  Any time you find yourself feeling stressed, think about all the things in your life that you have to be grateful for. Think about your family and friends, your health, the beauty of nature, and the personal experiences that helped you become the strong and talented individual you are today. In stressful situations, it may feel like the pressures of work will never let up. You may feel exhausted, anxious, or even angry, and in the moment it may seem like the problems you experienced that day are the most important thing in the world. However, it's important to step back and remember that most of the problems you experience on a day-to-day basis will be quickly forgotten about and won't have any lasting impact on your life.  Ask yourself how important a given problem really is. Consider whether that problem will matter in a day, a week, a month, or a year. Any problems that won't impact your life beyond the short term are generally not worth worrying about. It's a waste of time and energy that could have been spent doing something calming and enjoyable.

What is a summary?
Eat a healthy, balanced diet to feel better. Make sure you get enough sleep each night Relax without the use of drugs or alcohol. Feel better by practicing gratitude. Reframe your perspective for a calmer lifestyle.