Smith 
The damaging effects of stress show up not only in the mind, but in the body too. Learning to handle stressful situations effectively can lower your blood pressure. Following the tips that you will find in this article will greatly help you handle your stressors.
Animals can help relieve stress. Even just spending a few minutes a day petting Fido or Kitty can lower your stress level.
Never use alcohol as the answer to stress. Having a drink every night to ease some of your stress can lead to dependency. You need to rely on your own resources to relieve your stress, not become dependent on a drug like alcohol.
A great hobby to help you deal with stress is to create a garden. If you live in a house feel free to put a garden in the front or back yard, but be sure to ask your landlord if you rent.
Play some video games as a way to get some stress out. Games make you focus on strategy, which reduces energy available for stress and worry. It can really give your mood a boost, regardless if you are playing alone, or with friends.
You should write down all of the funny things that happen in your life. Your humor journal can be fun to review later, and more importantly, the very act of recording funny, positive memories will focus your mind on them and make them stick.
Crafts or arts can be useful to help relieve stress. Any activity that requires you to be creative, such as writing, drawing or painting, is beneficial for clearing your mind.
Try meditation to get some relief from stress. All the muscles throughout your body will have the opportunity to relax. Also, your mind can release your busy thoughts for a chance to rest and rejuvenate. Making time to meditate regularly can make your day-to-day life more relaxing. This can be a great remedy for relieving stress under any circumstances.
Understanding the things that are most important to your life can turn managing stress into an easier task. If you can find a way to prioritize the more important things in your life, you will find that your stress levels will decrease, and you will live a much happier life.
The simplest and easiest way to lower your stress levels is to smile. Although feelings of happiness and comfort usually bring on a smile, the link can be reversed – a smile can bring out those feelings. Smile and see how good you feel after you do. Smiling during a time of stress can help you feel calmer and eliminate some stress from your situation.
A great tip to keep in mind when dealing with stress is to take a deep breath every once in awhile. Deep breathing exercises, when done on a regular basis, can quickly calm your nerves and reduce anxiety and stress.
Smiling more can beat stress and is often forgotten about. Smiling involves your limbic system, which helps to regulate your emotions. When you smile, this system will quickly put you in a calmer state, with reduced stress levels.
Schedule time to allow yourself to stress. Little irritations and troublesome thoughts can be put away instead of being allowed to gnaw at your mind all day.
A great stress reliever is focusing on an image that soothes the eyes and mind. Images of flowers, the ocean, waterfalls, or mountains can help to relax your mind, making stressful situations feel more tolerable. If you don’t have any pictures, simply visualize them in your mind. Imagining yourself in a relaxing, calming environment in this way will help your body relax and allow your stress to melt away.
When you’re stressed, eat your favorite treat. Don’t try this if you have a habit of binge eating though. You should savor each bite that you take, focusing on the great flavors. You will find this to be a great way to handle stress, if you employ this technique sparingly.
Spend some time petting your pet to get rid of some stress. According to research, people who have pets experience less stress and enjoy lives that are happier. Your pets will love you unconditionally, and that provides many excellent benefits.
A good way to become less stressed is to squeeze a stress ball if you ever feel stressed and tense. Clenching and unclenching your fists is a great way to relive yourself from stress. This allows your muscles to unwind. Stress balls are usually conveniently sized, and are very useful for moments when you experience elevated anxiety.
Stress Levels
Alcohol and tobacco abuse are popular activities for individuals who are living with high stress levels. Unfortunately, partaking in these activities increases levels of stress. If you want to decrease your stress levels, avoid drinking alcohol or smoking.
Cultivating close relationships is a necessary part of life, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy to do. Pets, on the other hand, have much simpler needs and they can actually help to reduce stress. Interacting with a cherished pet can provide a rewarding break in your day, and the interaction also carries health benefits.
You don’t want to bug your friends to death by recounting every single life stress you experience on a regular basis. There is a healthy and helpful way to talk through the issues that you face. If the confidante you have chosen is a true friend, then you should be able to discuss anything at any time.
You can reduce the amount of stress in your life by engaging in enjoyable activities every single day. Spend time listening to your favorite playlist, flipping through a magazine or going for a leisurely stroll. Even if you think you are too busy, it is important to enjoy your favorite activities in order to avoid stress overload.
As was discussed in the beginning and throughout this article, stress can have a negative effect on your mental and physical health. Hopefully, this advice given can not only help you identify what’s causing you stress, but can also help you sort it out and live a more happy and healthy life!
