With today’s hectic lifestyles and the way everybody seems to be in a hurry nowadays its not surprising that most people suffer from stress in one form or another. We find it coming out sideways in instances such as snapping at partners and loved ones for no reason, road rage (someone cuts you off on the road and suddenly they’re your worst enemy in the world) and feeling run down. It seems in today’s society as if we’re all running around like headless chickens.

Stress affects us in such ways as: high blood pressure, decreased circulation, headaches, depression and overall poor general health. Here are a few simple things to help you combat all of the above:

Get up fifteen minutes earlier
By taking some time out at the start of the day to relax, slow down and not just getting up and running out the door. Chances are you’ll be a lot calmer throughout the day.

Change your thinking
Changing your thinking gives you a whole new outlook on life. Changing your thinking from I can’t to I can, from negative to positive. Viewing problems as challenges to be overcome and hard times in your life as learning experiences makes life a whole lot less stressful.

Be good to others
A little bit of love goes a long way. By being kind to other people such as being there for a friend or a simple act of kindness such as giving up your seat on the bus to an elderly person brings its own rewards in how you feel within yourself. A bit of understanding and acceptance for other people goes a long way too. You’re not the only one who’s stressed-out and that person you’re about to murder for walking in your way is totally oblivious to you and their effect on you.

Exercise
Any form of exercise is good to relieve all the tension our bodies take on in everyday life. Whether it’s going to the gym, stretching throughout the day, football, yoga, swimming or going for a jog. It releases endorphins that help make our bodies, as well as our minds, healthier.

A few other things, such as taking time out to breathe properly, reading, having fun and getting out of the city even if just for a weekend, are also very important to relieve stress. It may take a while and a lot of practice but with consistency these methods become second nature and within no time you’ll be floating around like Buddha!