That we live in an extremely stressful environment is abundantly evident.  However, stress is nothing new - it's been around since the beginning. Robert Louis Stevenson made these suggestions over 100 years ago:

1.  Make up your mind to be happy - learn to find pleasure in simple things.
 
2.  Make the best of circumstances. No one has everything and everyone has something of sorrow.

3.  Don't take yourself too seriously.

4.  Don't let criticism worry you - you can't please everybody.

5.  Don't let your neighbors set your standards - be yourself.

6.  Do things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.

7.  Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than actual ones.

8.  Since hate poisons the soul, don't cherish enmities and grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
 
9.  Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about places.
 
10.  Don't hold post-mortems or spend time brooding over sorrows and mistakes.

11.  Don't be the one who never gets over things.

12.  Keep busy at something. A very busy person never has time to be unhappy.