If you've been feeling stressed lately, you're not the only one. Every person you see has had to battle with stress. Having techniques in place to combat stress works, and if you can find methods that work right for you, then you need to use them. Here are some great options for fighting stress.


One way to reduce your high levels of stress is to read a book. When you read, your mind wanders into a fantasy land, where you are not troubled by the different pressures that will cause you tension. Purchase a mystery or science fiction novel to help how you feel.


Watching a movie is a proven way to eliminate the stress in your life for a couple of hours. Sit down with friends, family or alone and watch a horror or action film that will stimulate your mind. This will help a lot in getting your thoughts off your troubles.


A great tip that can help you keep your stress levels down is to try and be humble. Having a big ego can come with a heavy price. More often than not, we find that we can't live up to our own expectations if they're set too high.


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.


Next time you are feeling stressed, do something that makes you smile. Just the act of smiling has been scientifically shown to reduce stress levels. The nerves you use when smiling trigger the center in your brain that controls emotions. This essentially begin relaxing you immediately. So next time you feel stressed, step back and grin!


Many of the people who are living with stress believe that it is perfectly normal. If you feel this way you should start comparing your stress levels to that of people around you. You should quickly see that your stress is much higher and is having detrimental effects on you.


Stress is given the nickname of the silent killer. This is because many people do not even realize that it is something dangerous and so they take no actions to try and reduce it. The truth is that stress release cortisol, a chemical which accelerates your heart rate eventually leading to heart problems.


When facing high levels of tension, think about something that makes you happy, such as the beach. Picturing the sand and the waves rolling in is a very peaceful image and will help to remind you of the finer things in life. Create positive imagery to help eliminate unnecessary stress.


Try deep breathing exercises in order to reduce stress. Take one deep breath in and hold it for 3 seconds, then exhale as slowly as possible. Do this several times until you feel yourself starting to calm down. Breathing is one of the easiest ways we have to naturally calm ourselves.


A fun tip to remember when dealing with stress is to listen to music. Although you may not think so, listening to your favorite music can actually provide you with energy. Listening to music lifts your spirits and makes you happier, which is a great combatant for stress.


A great way to deal with stress is to consider drinking more hot tea. Along with the relaxing nature of drinking a warm beverage, many teas contain healthy natural relaxing agents in them that can help to soothe you. Check out a variety of teas and see which suit you the best.


A great way to lower your stress level or beat it all together, is to find an activity or hobby that you enjoy. Whether it be a reading club, gardening, or bike riding, find something that will give you a place to get away from it all, and just have fun.


Don't keep your feelings bottled up inside. You need to let out your thoughts and emotions, or the stress of holding them in can increase your blood pressure and raise the possibility of other health problems. If you don't have a confidant or friend you can speak to, consider the services of a professional counselor.


Stand up for yourself when you need to. For instance, if you have a ton of work to get done before bed and a friend stops by to visit, tell them upfront that you have a busy night ahead and just don't have time to talk. Or, if your child's teacher asks you to help with the school play but your schedule is already full, tell the teacher that you appreciate being asked, but that you don't have the time. Standing up for yourself is one of the best ways to reduce your overall stress.


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.


One basic way to eliminate stress is to get horizontal and have sex. Sex is known to release endorphins and when we are faced with long term stressful situations, we tend to forget about it and ignore our needs as human beings. Sex is one of the best all around total body relaxers, so make a date with your spouse and enjoys some stress relief.


In order to deal with stress effectively, you should take time out of your daily activities to give yourself a mini self-massage. Gently rubbing the palm of your hand in a circular motion has been shown to promote relaxation which in turn is a great way to reduce stress levels.


Use these methods as much as you can. Meeting stress head-on can be the most effective way to make sure that it doesn't have a dramatic effect on you, and you can return to the rest of your life. Follow these tips and prepare for stress, and itwon't be as big a deal as it once was.