Stress can sometimes be a difficult thing to manage even though a lot of people know that managing stress helps reduce health risks. Keep in mind that the more you know and apply towards living a stress free life the better chance you have at living one. Take note from tips like the ones in this article, that can help you live as stress free as possible.


A journal can help reduce stress. All it takes is a pen and paper and a few minutes to write down whatever is bothering you. Often just getting it out on paper puts things in a better perspective. Writing about our problems releases emotions that may otherwise be pent up, thus increasing our stress levels. Furthermore, seeing our problems on paper can sometimes allow us to see possible solutions to our problems.


A great and simple way to reduce your stress level is to take a break, even if it's just a minute or two. By stepping away from a stressful situation, you are allowing yourself to rejuvenate and recover for a few short minutes. By letting your body relax and your stress hormones to reduce, you are giving yourself a fresh start at the project at hand. With a new perspective after your small break, you might find that the task at hand isn't as stressful as it first seemed.


A lot of your stress is directly caused by the food that you put in your mouth. To limit the stress level in your life, cut back on the caffeine and coffee that you drink on a daily basis. This will make you feel calmer inside so that you can maximize how you feel.


You should imagine yourself being calm the next time you are under duress. Try imagining yourself as a scoop of melting ice cream under the hot sun, or lying in a hot bath while your stresses wash down the drain. You could also shut your eyes and then breathe slowly while thinking about a calm scene, such as walking through a meadow or laying on the beach.


In order to keep your stress level under control, it would be wise to make sure that you get a regular amount of exercise. This is important because exercise releases chemicals that work as natural tension release agents. As little as a half hour a day, a few times a week is enough.


Make sure your jaw is relaxed and do not grit your teeth. Stress has a tendency to make us tighten certain muscles, and the muscles around the jaw are most commonly affected. When you are stressed, touch your jaw, clench, breathe slowly in, and then release. Doing this exercise should help you feel better quickly.


Everyone needs positive thoughts in their life. Create your own by coming up with a positive, short phrase called an affirmation that you can use daily. As you repeat your affirmation to yourself, you will be able to stifle that wheedling, pessimistic voice from within. Tell yourself that you can handle this and that you feel calm, or whatever affirmation makes you feel better.


A great tip that can help you keep your stress in check is to listen to soothing music. There are many different genres of music that can have a calming effect when you listen to them. Enjoying a little bit of this music from time to time can help a lot. It is a great alternative to the unending bad news you hear on most radio shows.


Admit your stress. Each of us have our own stress signal, whether is it teeth gritting, neck pain, shoulder pain, shallow breathing, or loss of temper. Take time to figure out what yours is and then say out loud, "I am feeling stressed" once you start to feel that way. Saying it and realizing you are starting to feel stressed will help slow down the negative emotions.


A great tip that can help you keep your stress levels down is to start practicing deep breathing exercises. Deep breathing exercises are a form of mediation and they allow you to feel more relaxed and peaceful. You'll notice your heart rate slowing down and you'll feel much better.


Try to get as much sleep as you possibly can during the course of the day, regardless of how much you have to work. Lack of sleep will result in increased stress levels, which can limit your productivity and hurt the way that you feel. Aim for 8 hours of sleep a night to feel your best.


If you are unable to convince yourself that stress is bad just because of your heart than you should remember that it also causes you to gain weight. When you are feeling more stressed your body attempts to hold on to the energy that it has, causing you to gain and retain weight.


In today's on-the-go society, it is easy to move and think too fast. Therefore, you should slow your pace down. Take deep breaths in order to give yourself a better perspective on things. Slow down during the day as rushing raises your anxiety levels.


A great tip that can help you fight stress is to show gratitude for what you have each and every day. Doing this daily will remind you that you're blessed and it will keep you in good spirits. You might start appreciating things you've never even thought of before.


Improving your time management skills can help to eliminate stress from your life. Try to take care of your duties ahead of time to eliminate the stress from procrastination. You can, therefore, reduce your stress levels by improving your ability to manage your time. When you plan things in advance and commit to your schedule, you can accomplish things without the needless pressure that stress creates.


With all the information you learned you should feel more positive and optimistic about what you can do to manage the stress in your life. As stated earlier in the article remember, the more you know and apply the better chances you have at living as stressed free life as possible. Keep on the lookout for new information you can apply when possible and managing stress should become a breeze before you know it.