10 Healthy Habits to Reduce Stress

Having too much stress in our lives can be detrimental to our health, so trying to reduce the amount of stress in our lives by creating positive, healthy habits can help us live healthier, longer lives. Although this can be easier said than done, here are 10 tips to focus on when trying to rid your life of some of the stress. 

1. Talk with Family and Friends
• It always helps to get things off your chest. Sit down with someone you love and trust and share your feelings with them.
2. Engage in Daily Physical Activity
• Physical activity can relieve mental tension and get your mind off of stressful situations
3. Embrace the Things You Are Able to Change
• You cannot change or control every situation, but you can set yourself a new goal to focus on as something you can change and control
4. Don't Forget to Laugh
• Laugh out loud as much as you can as laughing always makes you feel better
5. Give Up Bad Habits
• Things such as alcohol, smoking and too much caffeine are detrimental to our health and only makes things worse when it comes to stress. So tell yourself now is the time to give these things up to help benefit your health and your life. 
6. Slow Down
• "Pace instead of race". Plan ahead for things that need to be accomplished and get the important things done before anything else. 
7. Get Enough Sleep
• Try to get at least 6-8 hours each night to give yourself a clear, rested mind each day
8. Get Your Life Organized
• Make "to-do" lists to focus on important tasks and not make them overwhelming. Take your bigger tasks one step at a time. 
9. Give Back
• Volunteer your time giving back to your community and to other people. Helping others helps you to feel better and less stressed. 
10. Try Not to Worry
• This is definitely more said than done, but try not to worry about little things that do not have a huge impact in your life. Sometimes, the current moment might not be the time to accomplish something you believe needs to be done.