There are plenty of resources which teach you how to relieve stress and it is no suprise. There is so much stress in the world today. We are so busy being busy we have little time for anything else.

We are fatalities in a bizarre world. Think about it. We chase around hour after hour every day and we end up without any time. Money, success, careers and family are what drives us to keep going day in and day out and as a result we have become ‘stressed out’; ticking time bombs ready to blow at any minute.

Disease, chronic illness, hypertension and even heart attacks are just some of the symptoms of stress. Generally people don’t even realize the daily stress they are being put under. Our bodies have amazing coping mechanisms that protect us from a sudden burst of stress which could be caused by a traumatic event or fear. We were not however supposed deal with stress all the time.

So, what do you do to relieve stress and the effect it can have on your body? In a minute you will get to read the 5 steps to easy stress relief but before that there are 2 things you should consider first.

The first thing is to get off adrenaline. One of the best tips on how to relieve stress is to plan better. There are situations in life that are unavoidable but this should be the exception and not be happening all the time. A little planning can be the best thing you can do to keep your stress levels down. Your health and life could be at stake.

The second thing is to drink less caffeine and if you are a smoker to cut back, or better yet, quit smoking. Nicotine and caffeine can cause harmful stress to the body. Where possible try to avoid them.

So let’s now work through the 5 steps to a stree free mind and body.

1. Regular exercise
It’s not really important what exercise means to you. You could go out for a jog or a brisk walk in the park or go to the gym and exercise there. Regular exercise is what is important and so is making sure you are relaxed while doing it. If you are not enjoying the exercise you are doing then there is really no point.

2. Relaxation and meditation
I know it sounds easy to say just relax or chill out but most people don’t know how to. It is not necessary to meditate like a Zen master, although this can be very relaxing, but you should take a time out where you are free from disruptions and noise and you can have a little alone time.

3. Treat yourself
This isn’t an invitation to go out and shop. It does mean doing something for yourself. You could just take the time to be by yourself without any interruptions or you could go treat yourself to a massage or a good book.

4. Video and board games
Games can be a great way to relieve stress. You may want to choose careful the people you play the game with so as to avoid tension because of competitiveness. There are some great free software games you can download off the internet that are great to help relieve stress

5. Make sure you sleep well
Rest properly. Disruptions to your sleeping patterns can cause tremendous stress on your body. Part of resting properly is to stop thinking. The simplest way to control your constant thinking is to not react to negative thoughts as this can cause you to stress.

You do not need to do all of the above right away but you should start with one, get in the habit of doing it regularly and then start the next one. It is important to relax no matter what you do. Start today.