1.     Breath - Sometimes people forget that stress it not just in your head, it’s also in your body.  When you are stressed, your breathing becomes shallower and your system is flooded with chemicals telling your body to prepare for a  ‘flight or fight’ response.   Stress is honestly EXHAUSTING for your body.  A quick fix for this is to simply breath.  When you are stressed, sit quietly for a few minutes and take a few slow deep breaths.  Not only will it help get your mind off your stresses for a few minutes, it will also tell your brain that everything is ok and that it can relax.

2.     Be Grateful – Sometimes when we are stressed or down we tend to focus on everything going wrong and we forget how right 99% of our lives are going.  So next time your super stressed and negative, take literally one minute and think of as many great things in your life as your can.  E.g. you’re alive and healthy, you can pay your rent this month, you have a car, your child is healthy, your coffee was awesome today etc.  Being grateful is the best way to improve your mood and put everything in perspective.  Maybe being 15 minutes late to that meeting really isn’t the end of the world.

5.     Pray – Sometimes things just really are beyond your control and stress is inevitable.  Like when you find yourself at a hospital waiting for news about an ailing loved one or when you feel your life threatened.  In this instances I find that the best thing to do it pray about it.  God is always there and he has a knack for comforting people and performing miracles in the most impossible situations.  Just knowing that I’m not alone in any situation and that God always wants the best for me, has always calmed me down and comforted me.  I hope He can do that for you too.