Before we begin- please realize I am basing this completely off of my own personal experiences. I'm broke, in my third year of school, have dealt with the death of a parent, minimum wage retail jobs-moral of the story, I know stress. So here is a list of things that helped (and still does) when feeling overwhelmed.
Meditation. There's probably a million articles that can vouch for this. But it is well deserved. Meditation has become a part of the norm for a good amount of people, and what do a lot of those people have in common? They're happier. Just taking 5-10 minutes a day to sit still, relax, and clear your mind can go a long way. Assuming you don't fall asleep in that time that is. ;)
Sleep. When in high-stress situations, sleep tends to be even harder to obtain. Believe me, I'm aware of this. But maybe after a nice long hot shower, or a quick meditation session, it can help you finally get that long deserved snoozed. More often than not, I wake up from a nap feeling refreshed and in a much cleared headspace. It helps.
Working out. When overwhelmed by work, we often take the easy route and do... nothing. But, if you think about it- you can really take all that negative energy and turn it into something positive. A good, hard workout. A short run. A short or long, walk. Lifting weights. Whatever it is, do it. it might just help. It may also make you more tired but it sure as heck will help get your mind off everything else.
Write it all down. If you're stressed from a lot of shit you need to do, make a list. If you're overwhelmed by school-work and due dates, make a calendar and write out exactly when each thing is due. If your overwhelmed by things beyond your control, just simply make a list and write down everything that you feel is going wrong in your life. Just seeing everything written in front of you can really help put things into perspective. It can bring you the realization of "hmm, this really isn't AS bad as I thought it was." Simple things. They help.
Listen to music. This is usual go-to option for me. If you're the kind of stressed-out that makes you want to crawl into the fetal position and cry, listen to something uplifting. (An example song: "Upside Down" by Set It Off). If your the kind that gets angry when overwhelmed, listen to something angry! (An example song: "2nd Sucks" by A Day to Remember, though this list could be infinite). Hearing others express similar mindsets/emotions as you can be immensely helpful. It makes us feel less alone. It comforts us.
Cry. "Crying is a natural way to reduce emotional stress that, left unchecked, has negative physical affects on the body, including increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and other stress-related disorders." It's true. And I don't know about you guys, but after a good cry I feel SO GOOD. It's like a big weight has been lifted off me. Like I've released this big bundle of negative energy. It's refreshing and it's nice.
That's the official list I have for you guys. It's a bit sparatic but effective. Try one or two or all of them out the next time you're stressed. See if it helps! Thanks for reading and good luck on your stressful journey's through life!