Rediscover your positive side – smile: Even though it’s annoying when you’re extremely stressed and someone says “smile” they may actually be on to something.

Positive thinking and a willingness to accept things outside your control are good ways to reduce tension.

Take a step back from difficult situations and look at them objectively.

This can sometimes help a solution to a problem come to you or may even let you laugh at the situation.

This often makes you feel better as laughing releases stress-reducing endorphins that give you an instant lift.

Exercise: Have you noticed how the world can look much brighter after some exercise?

15 to 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise is another way to release those feel-good endorphins.

And it doesn’t have to be running.

Anything that gets your heart rate up such as walking, yoga, tai chi, stretching or even housework can count.

Keeping active can provide a physical outlet for your frustrations, keeps you healthy, and makes you feel good about yourself.

This in turn can help you handle stress better in the first place.

Take time out for yourself: Sometimes dealing with stress is about quieting your mind and re-grouping so you are in a place where you can better cope with what’s required.

Taking 30 minutes to relax in the bath, have a massage or read a magazine with a cup of tea can help do this.

Eat yourself more relaxed: What we put into our bodies has a big impact on how we feel.

However, the busier and more stressed we become, the more likely we are to grab processed, sugary foods and drink latte after latte.

Here are a few tips for you to try:
• Cut down on caffeine – it’s a stimulant and will make you feel more tense.
• Cut down on processed foods and stock up on fruit & vegetables.
• Try taking a multivitamin that includes vitamins C, B3 and magnesium as stress can reduce the body’s absorption of some nutrients.
• Eat five or six small meals a day to stabilise your blood sugar levels.

This will help reduce the stress hormone cortisol and regulate levels of the feel-good hormones – serotonin and dopamine.

• Foods such as cottage cheese, pasta, avocados, bananas and skimmed milk can really calm you down.

All are rich in a protein called tryptophan, which the body uses to make serotonin – a sleep and mood enhancer.

• Eat slowly and take the time to chew your food thoroughly – 18% of digestion occurs in the mouth.

Meditate for inner calm: Meditation has been shown to boost the immune system, calm the mind, get rid of negative thoughts and even fight disease.

Millions of people swear by it! The whole point of meditation is to still the brain, ignore the thoughts coming into your mind, and let them drift out again.

The more you practice meditation the quieter your thoughts will become.

Set aside five minutes every day when you won’t be interrupted.

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