If you are like most Americans, chances are you get stressed a few times a week, and the winter season may have exacerbated this anxiety. If stress continues to affect your life, it could lead to numerous mental and physical health conditions—including obesity, insomnia, and high blood pressure. To help relieve stress, follow the tips below.

The Best Ways to Relieve Stress & Reduce Anxiety

1. Take a Timeout

A long day filled with tasks adds to stress levels. To navigate your busy days a little easier, schedule time for yourself. Two to three 10-minute breaks a day to breathe and do nothing will help you feel recharged.

2. Get Outside

The shorter days cause many people to experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression. This condition causes increased anxiety, weight gain, social withdrawal, moodiness, and fatigue. However, you can combat it by going outside during the day as much as possible. If you work indoors, sit in sunlit locations or invest in daylight-balanced bulbs.

3. Watch What You Eat

The foods you eat have a direct correlation on your mental well-being and emotional stability. Lots of sugars, caffeine, and alcohol make it harder to cope with stressful situations. While cutting out typical comfort foods like pasta and sweets might seem daunting, there are calming alternatives that will reduce high levels of stress and anxiety. Substitute your daily coffee with green tea and try to eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts.

4. Take Care of Your Emotions

For many people, the core of their stress stems from emotions that they are ignoring, denying, or suppressing. Keep a journal to track how you feel every day. At the end of each week, read it back and see if there are underlying emotions you might not have noticed. Try to trace where these emotions are coming from and develop a plan for solving and coping with them.

For further help de-stressing your life, contact the Peggy Sealfon-Stonewater Studio in Naples, FL. Peggy is a wellness specialist and life coach who helps people relieve stress and find inner peace. Begin getting relief by reading her book Escape From Anxiety. Or join her for an online weekly “live” class: Yoga Nidra for Vitality & Healthy LIving. Read further tips on her website or call (239) 821-2266 today.