Eliminate the Self-absorbed Sidekicks and Emotional Vampires

A recent study found that 8 in 10 people deal with "self-absorbed sidekicks and emotional vampires" aka toxic friends. It's usually in our 20somethings when we start to reassess our friendships. We start to realize that having those toxic friends can have a huge impact on our health--the stress in itself can lead to unhealthy behaviors.

Not sure if you have a toxic friend? If you answer 'yes' to any of the questions below, it's time to consider just how much you want that friend around:

• Does your friend constantly talk about herself/himself without even taking 5 seconds to think about you or anyone else?
• Does your friend constantly complain about every single little thing?
• Does your friend criticize everything you do? Even when you're not asking for their advice?
• Does your friend throw little insults your way?
• Does your friend try to boss you around? And do they throw a 'temper tantrum' if you don't take their "advice"?
• Does it seem like your friend is never around or available to actually be a friend unless they need a favor?

If so, they gotta go! It's not easy getting rid of a toxic friend. At some point, you had a positive experience with them, so they weren't always toxic--but as many of us continue on the 20something path, we tend to change. Some because more "me, me, me" while others start to appreciate the amazing people they have in their life. If you want to have lifelong friendships, you have to keep the right ones around, starting now! Below are a few tips to do it with class:

• Put your time and energy on things that make you happy, i.e. friends, hobbies, family, etc.
• Don't feel pressured to return the phone calls and texts. By minimizing the communication, the friend should start to get the hint.
• Be blunt: Tell them in a letter how they feel, but by doing this, you should be fair and see if they are willing to stop being so toxic. If they are a real friend, they'll listen to what you say. If not, they'll be happy to move along.
• Set boundaries! Perhaps only spend time around that person in a group setting, or keep the conversation within the real of Facebook.

Bottom line:  Some of you may not agree with the advice above, so figure out what works best for you. Just remember, life is short, time is precious, and friendships should be special. No one should literally drain the energy and positivity out of you. I can tell you from personal expierence that it's not easy, but it's totally worth it in the end. When you get rid of a toxic friend, you feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders, a weight you didn't even realize you've been carrying around. It's pretty fabulous!

'Namaste': 3 Ways to a Less Stressful & More Fabulous You

Give your stress wings and let it fly away. ~Terri Guillemets

Stress. Everybody deals with it no matter their age or gender. There's different types of stress. Sometimes stress can be good for you. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds that they work better under a certain stress level.  According to the Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, in small doses, stress can be good because it a) makes you more alert and b) gives you a burst of energy.

But in today's world--20something women are stressed out more than ever. Not only are you becoming more independent, but you're also starting your career with insane timelines and tasks, dealing with with a small paycheck, trying to have a social life in between the late nights at work, feeling pressured to consntantly be in contact with everyone via Facebook, email, text, Twitter, and to top it all off--you need to squeeze in at least 45 minutes of gym time a day.

Relax. Refocus. Connect/Disconnect!

When feeling stressed, stop for a few minutes and take a few deep breathes to relax. This will help your muscles relax and reduce the tension that you probably have in your shoulders.

Refocus by making a list of all the things that make you feel stressed and identify the issues that you can fix now vs. later.  It's all about taking it one step at a time. Recently, I learned of other women who are dealing with situations much more stressful than my own. This helped me put things into perspective.

Find an hour or half an hour to connect with a friend or even a therapist. The best way to release stress is to talk it out. I always feel better when I talk through a stressful situation and in most cases, I'm able to find a solution through the help of a friend. On the flipside, consider disconnecting from your technology-advanced world--that's right, turn off your phone and log off of Facebook. Try something else like a funny movie, a long walk, a spin class, or hit the sheets early.

Bottom line: It's important to learn how to manage stress in your 20somethings. As we get older, our level of stress will wear and tear on our body, mind, and spirit. Making yourself a priority will not only benefit you, but your family members, friends, and coworkers.

Discuss--> How do you relieve your stress?