1) Exercise regularly. Exercise boosts mood, releases stress hormones and increases energy.

2) Become aware of what is triggering your stress. Is it your work or personal circumstances? Sometimes you just need to make some small adjustments to start to reduce your stress levels.

3) Avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. People often reach for a drink or a cigarette when they are stressed, believing they will feel more relaxed. However, these are the very things that increase stress hormones so avoid as much as you can.

4) Eat healthfully. Avoid sugar and processed food. Wholegrains, vegetables, sources of protein such as pulses & legumes, fish and lean meat are full of necessary nutrients to strengthen the body. Stress depletes the nutrients in our bodies, so make sure you feed your body well.

5) Get 7-9 hours sleep every night. Feelings of anxiety are a symptom of a lack of sleep so make sure you get plenty of rest. Sleep is also the time your mind and body heals.

6) Focus on three gifts. Keep a notebook next to your bed and before you go to bed, write the 3 to 5 things that were like a gift to you that day. It could be meeting someone you love; the sun; leaves blowing in the wind. No matter how good your day was write 3 things.; no matter how bad your day was write 3 things.

7) Make time for you – meet with friends; walk in nature; have a cup of tea in peace or go for a run. Taking time for yourself gives you a chance to reconnect and take a break.

8) Breathe. Sit in a quiet place and breathe from your stomach. Inhale for the count of 7 and exhale for a count of 11. Repeat a few times, focusing on the rhythm. You will feel calmer in not time. See below for my free guide on effective breathing techniques.

9) Gratitude and kindness. Stress is often caused by your thoughts circling around, worrying. Start thinking about the things you are grateful for. Focus on everything you can think of – and trust me, there will be more than you first thought. Also, be aware of how you speak to yourself – be kind in your thoughts. This will naturally improve your mood.

10) Ask yourself ‘Will this matter next week?‘. We often get stressed about things that will lost their significance quickly. This way, you can focus on what is important and release the insignificant worries.

Try one of these tips at a time and find out which one works best for you. I would love to hear what you think.
If you are wanting to reduce your stress, then I offer you a free guide on three breathing techniques to reduce your daily stresses effectively. Download here.