As we all know, life is about the happy, awesome memories that we always think about. Sometimes, however, there are moments when the times get a little tougher and maybe things aren’t as happy as you remember. This is a part of life, and we can’t escape it. The sooner we start to realize that, the easier it’ll be for us.

Everyone has a different way of dealing with stress, dilemmas, and general things that we’ve never encountered before (it happens to all of us). What you do is up to you, but I’ve had my share of hard times like everyone else. I like to think I’ve come through them pretty well, so I wanted to present a few tips for getting through these hard times.

Let me set up a scenario for you. Say you’ve just lost a loved one. Let’s say this is your favorite uncle or the grandfather you were closest to. How do you handle that? Do you lash out at friends and family, and the like who just want to know how you are?

I hope you didn’t say “yes,” because it’s not healthy. I know because I’ve been there once myself. I lost my grandfather when I was young, but even at that age we were extremely close. My brother died at a young age, so he was very, very protective of me and always held me in high-esteem.

When he died, I sort of shut down. I was just in elementary school, but I didn’t know what to do. He always made me laugh with his cranky, but wise personality. I didn’t have the tips for dealing with problems that I have now, so I had to rely on family and friends. They helped me to release how I felt, instead of holding it in. That’s probably the best tip I have – don’t forget about your family.

Now, though, I do a lot of exercise and yoga. Whenever I get stressed, I head to the gym. If you’ve seen me, I don’t look like Arnold or the next Chuck Liddell. That’s because I’m not trying to get “jacked,” as it’s called. I’m trying to stay in shape and relieve some stress. You don’t have to go really hard; going for a run on the treadmill might be enough.

I’ve started listening to a lot more music. They say that music is good for the soul, and I tend to believe that it is, too. I have a speaker that I think is awesome, and I connect it via Bluetooth to my phone and have a jam session when I’m feeling down or just need a pick-me-up. Listen to whatever you want, sing along to it, and you should feel better.

I do a lot of writing in my spare time, like 10-12 pages a day. This is my leisure activity, but if you find something you really enjoy, such as running with a friend, drawing, or even something like origami, your heart’s into it more. If you enjoy the activity and get into it, then you’ll forget what you’re going through for a while. Trust me, it works.

The final tip that I’ve used in the past is comedy. I love comedy specials. If you can make me laugh, then you’re set. So, if you’re down or going through something rough, put a comedy special on or something that makes you laugh. As long as you enjoy it and can watch the movie, go for it. If the movie’s a tear-jerker, I think that’s fine, too. Just be careful it doesn’t bring you down further.

Are any tips full-proof? No, I don’t think so. You have to find what works best for you, but maybe these tips will point you on the right track.