TOEFL essay: stress reduction

[translatinga]

People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties of modern life. Some read; some exercise; other work in their gardens. What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

Busy schedules have caused a lot of trouble for modern people, stress and difficulties are no strangers for almost all of them. Stress affects almost everyone, from the higly pressured executive to a busy student. It can cause a variety of physical disorders, such as headaches, or stomach ulcers. Yet, there are several effective ways how to deal with them.

First of all, setting realistic goals is one of the major remedies how to deal with stress and other major difficulties in modern life. In other words, a person had better set goals which are not too high for him to attain. If the goal is too high, then he will most probably fail to achieve it. Therefore, this will only cause a stressful situation.

Furthermore, a hobby or some physical exercise can also help. These activities will make stressful people forget about their problems and difficulties in the real life, at least for a while. Thus, it is not important which one be chosen – watching some comedy, reading fairy-stories or any of Danielle Steele's novels, or jogging – the effect will be almost the same – a person will feel reduction in stress level.

In addition, maintaining warm relationships with family and friends will do a great job in dealing with stress and various difficulties in life. Unfortunately, the schedules of modern people are so busy that they do not have time even for their closest people, such as their family and friends. It would be advisable for everybody to find some spare minutes in their schedule to meet the people they love. Moreover, the positive emotions meeting and talking to those people will surely decrease stress.

Taking into account the strategies and examples in dealing with stressful situations, it must be said that there are various ways how to get through the problem, and everybody has the right to decide which one fits him best.

[Alan]

Hi translatinga,

Well done. Just a few points.

not too high for him to attain. Simply say: not too high to attain.

not important which one be chosen – Say: which one is chosen.

for their closest people - for those closest to them

the real life, - no article, simply real life

ways how to deal with them. I would suggest: ways of dealing.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A day in the life of a driving instructor