There are a number of ways to reduce any unwarranted stress in your life. Take control of your life by reducing the effect that stressors have on you. These tips are here to help you reduce your stress.

If you find yourself feeling overextended or highly stressed, think of a relaxing scene. Imagine yourself taking a long, luxurious bath and see if that doesn’t relax you and free you from stress. You can also try to transport yourself to a happy memory or relaxing place.

Animal ownership is wonderful for relieving stress. Researchers have found that just petting an animal for a few minutes can help to relieve stress.

Write your stress away. There are times when we would rather not talk about what is stressing us, but if you write about it, it can take some of the weight off your shoulders. Keep all this information in a diary so whenever you want to know how you handled a previous stressful situation, the helpful information is available.

Stress can be caused by a wide variety of factors, so you should first try to identify exactly what is causing you to feel stressed. If you can remove it from your life, then you should do so. Once you remove what is causing you stress, it will feel as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.

TIP! A great way to relieve stress is to exercise and get yourself active. This will not be a quick fix, though over time you will see you have a better quality of life, and there will always be something fun to do tomorrow.

Make sure that you inform the people whom you are with regularly that they are not the cause of your stress. Often, your family, especially kids, will not understand your stress, and they will feel like it was caused by something they did. Seek out the support of your loved ones, but never make them feel like they are to blame.

If your current methods of coping with stress include unhealthy habits, try substituting them with something actually good for you. Over-eating, for example, can easily be turned into a quick walk or a few push-ups as a means of combating stress. Using these kinds of crutches becomes a habit. Replace bad habits with good ones. With better habits your mind and body will be stronger, and able to deal with the stresses in your life.

In many cases, an enjoyable talk with a close friend is the greatest way to overcome stress. You can use the conversation to get moral support from the person or just to brighten up your day a little. Whether it’s face to face or on the phone, make sure the conversation is the centerpiece and that it has your full attention.

Video Games

Many young adults play video games as an effective way to relieve themselves of stress. Concentrating on something you enjoy helps clear your mind. Playing video games with a friend can also improve your overall mood.

You should write down all of the funny things that happen in your life. Eventually, it will make for excellent reading material. Furthermore, this forces you to focus on the more enjoyable, positive aspects of life.

TIP! If you can, play your favorite music at work to relieve some of your stress. Be sure to play lower key music as this will help to soothe you.

During times of stress, pay attention to what parts of your body are tense. In particular you may notice it in your hands, jaw and shoulders. After you have identified your stress areas, try and stretch them out often. This can help to reduce your tension and help you to relax.

If you are busy, you might be having racing thoughts. It’s very important that you slow yourself down, take a breath, and put things into proper perspective. As the day wears on, try to limit the times that you rush, which will help your anxiety level.

Music is a great stress reliever when you feel your anxiety levels are rising. Take the time to listen to your favorite CD’s or carry an mp3 player with you if you want to listen to music while doing something else. This lets your mind wander away from anything that has caused you to feel stressed.

TIP! Hobbies and video games can be relaxing, but if they are causing frustration then it is time to go on to a new activity or rest. Find a hobby that helps you clear your mind, rather than cause you more negative feelings.

As the above article demonstrated, many different methods exist for dealing with your stress. Rid yourself of the stress in your world by using these tools. By using the tips you learned here, you can start feeling more relaxed and live a life that is stress-free.