Put your lifestyle in perspective
The way you live your life can affect the level of stress that you carry. It’s much easier said than done, but finding a balance to your work, personal, and family life can be the key that unlocks the door to peace for many. Look at how you spend your time daily and find what really matters and what doesn’t. Also be sure that you get enough sleep, because that’s when your body recharges and recovers from daily stress.

Change the way you think
When you’re under stress, it’s easy to feel bad about yourself. This can cause you to lose sight of what’s important on a day to day basis. You may focus on only the negative aspects of a given situation and not even consider what positives may come from it. This can be the beginning of a vicious circle, as negative thinking like this can cause more stress. Think about all aspects of a situation when dealing with a stressful problem. Look at it from multiple angles and identify things that you can change, and find ways to work around or deal with what you cannot.

Relax your mind
Spend some free time with a hobby that you enjoy, or with a pet. Share your thoughts and feelings with others, because if you let it build up it can become toxic. Many people find relief from stress in meditation. Focusing on the here and now of the specific moment can allow things that were previously stressing you to melt away. Some people go a step beyond simple meditation and undergo hypnosis, which you can even do yourself with a little research.

Relax your body
Regular exercise, even in small amounts can relieve muscle tension from stress. It helps oxygenate your muscles and improve circulation. Deep breathing exercises can help set you on the right course as well, and are recommended with such other body relaxation techniques as tai chi and yoga. Try combining some of these techniques in the spare time you create from evaluating your lifestyle.

Take A Breather
Deep breaths raise your body’s blood oxygen levels, which can help increase your energy and alertness by lowering blood pressure and slowing your heart rate. The idea is to breathe deeply into your belly, not your chest. While sitting upright, inhale slowly through your nose and feel your abdomen push out, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Alternatively, a method used for quick energy in yoga calls for quick inhaling and exhaling through your nose while your mouth is closed. It is recommended to take 3 of these rapid breaths within a second, and repeat up to 15 seconds.

Move Around
If you have an office job like so many Americans, try getting a little exercise either on your lunch hour or if you get a shorter break throughout the day. A study from California State University, Long Beach suggested that the participants had a longer time of increased energy after taking a 10 minute walk than they did if they ate a candy bar or other sugary quick fix. The reason that a little brisk exercise works better than a store bought solution is that walking pumps oxygen through your veins and muscles.

Drink More Water
Your brain is made of 83% water, so it just makes sense that if you’re dehydrated it’s not going to function as well as it could or should. Fatigue isn’t the only symptom of dehydration of course, it can also cause depression, confusion, aggravation, constipation, and headaches. Make sure you drink plenty of water, or eat foods that have high water content like fruits and vegetables. Excess caffeine can cause dehydration, so be sure to balance it carefully.