So why is it that so many people, so much of the time, are downright miserable?
Is it the existential situation - the psychological default program that kicks in when we realize we are alone? Is it the result of thinking we are alone when we are not? Is it what happens when we live without purpose, as Victor Frankl suggests? Or is it merely too much sugar?
Answer: All of the above.
It is completely normal to get a little stressed and moody every now and then. However, you can learn to recognize the onset of a bad mood and get yourself out of it before it ruins your day (or your life).
Avoiding a bad mood is much like avoiding a common headache: If you can feel it coming on early enough and get some aspirin into your system, you’ll never be in pain. But if you wait till the pain is planted in your head, you’ll have a very difficult time getting rid of it.
Eliminating Stress
Here are 12 ways to deal with problems without getting stressed over them:
1.  Forgive yourself for feeling bad. Depending on your biology, your upbringing, and your circumstances, you may feel blue rarely, sometimes, or often. Accept it as normal.
2.  Count your blessings.
3.  Take a nap. You’d be surprised by how often you can make yourself feel better simply by taking a 10-minute catnap.
4.  Take a stress break. If you work as hard as I do, you will be forever on the verge of a nervous breakdown unless you do something about it. One of the best things you can do is schedule at least two (and preferably three or four) stress breaks every working day.
• A stress break is not a stress break unless:
• You get at least 10 feet away from your desk.
• You are completely distracted by it.
• It lasts at least five minutes.
• It relaxes you.
• It energizes you.
If you have good control over your daily schedule, you can plan stress breaks between tasks. Ideally, you’ll want a five-minute break every 90 to 120 minutes. If your schedule is too frenetic or unpredictable to do it that way, use an egg timer and simply break away from whatever you are doing when it rings.
5. Cut out the crap food, especially sugar and starch. Be aware of how they affect your moods.
6. Spend as much time as you can with upbeat people. Moody people are often helpful, productive, inspiring, and useful. But they are always an emotional drag. If your life involves moody energy-sappers, refresh with positive friends.
7. Follow Dale Carnegie’s Three C’s: Don’t criticize. Don’t condemn. Don’t complain.
8. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. If you are not sleeping well, chances are you are irritable and somewhat unproductive. This is a vicious circle. Get out of it. Get some sleep.
This will not only keep your stress level in check but will also improve your overall health. And remember this: The sleep you get before midnight is twice as good as the sleep you get afterward. So go to bed early.
9. Exercise. Intense exercise will tire you out, but it won’t reduce stress. Walking, biking at a medium pace, swimming slowly - these are the sorts of exercise that can reduce stress.
10. Play. Again, be cognizant of what forms of play reduce stress and which add to it. Golfing is mostly, from what I’ve seen, a stress producer. So are most competitive sports. Yes, they’re fun if you have a competitive nature. But they don’t reduce stress.
11. Work to improve things. If you are bummed out about problems at work, do this: Compose a list of your five most pressing incomplete jobs. Then break down each job into specific tasks that can be accomplished in an hour or less. Arrange those tasks in order of priority. Finally, choose one. Just one. Put everything else out of your mind and get to work on it. Immediately. No excuses.
12. Listen to classical music. Researchers have discovered many interesting things about the effects of classical music - especially Mozart’s - on the brain. One of them being that it is relaxing. So give it a try.
Artius Health Care brings together a team of experts dedicated to maximizing your potential through health, employment and training services.  Our team includes physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, personal trainers, psychologists, rehabilitation consultants, employment consultants, and massage therapists. We have offices throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast and Ipswich.  Check out or website at  www.artius.com.au and register for our FREE Health Consultation and Report or phone now on 1300 736 537 for more information.