Managing stress is an increasing problem for people from virtually all walks of life in modern times. Increasing demands on our time and resources creates pressures that can manifest themselves in our health, our mental wellbeing and our productivity at work and at home.

According to the NHS, some 80% of visits to British doctors are stress-related, whilst the Confederation of British Industry estimates that stress-related sick leave costs British Industry some £12 billion every year. Below are some tips on how to deal with and successfully manage stress within your own life.

Why do we get stressed?
People get stressed for a variety of reasons, and we all have our own individual triggers for what constitutes a stressful situation. Perhaps the stress comes from negative experiences in the past, or maybe it is simply an increased workload and an inability to balance the work/life equation.

In any stressful situation, try and take time to discover exactly what it is that’s worrying you, whether it should be something to worry about to such a degree, and what steps you might be able to take to change your behaviour and reduce it.

Fitness first
One of the primary reasons for a build up of stress levels is an unhealthy lifestyle. If we’re unhealthy, we respond to challenges with less energy levels and consequently run a higher risk of becoming stressed if we do not match up to expectations, even self-imposed ones.

With this in mind, remember to exercise regularly (yoga is a good stress-reliever, as it focuses primarily on breathing), as an increased level of exercise is the single most effective way to combat stress and even depression. Even just going for an extended walk in your lunch break, seeing the sky and getting some fresh air, can do wonders for your stress levels.

Eat yourself calm
During stressful periods, our body generally consumes nutrients faster, and this can lead to deficiencies in your diet that can in turn lead to further stress. Regular eating, in a calm and unhurried environment is essential.

Try and eat foods that are rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, and cram in as much fresh fruit and vegetables as you can. Magnesium and selenium supplements can also be helpful in diffusing stress levels. Stimulants, such as coffee and alcohol, should be avoided if possible, as these can crank up stress levels in their own right.

Become good at saying no
In life, the people who seem to manage stress well are often the people who do not have a problem with saying no to things. This does not mean that you should say no to everything, but merely that a balanced life requires a selective judgement on what you should and shouldn’t be spending your precious time on.

By saying yes to every request you receive, whether in the workplace or in your personal life, you run the risk of overloading yourself with too many commitments, which you can’t possibly fulfil to the level that you might like to. Remember to gracefully say no occasionally, and you’re on your way to a life with reduced stress.

Look at your belief structure
Belief structures, the way we see things, are informed by personal values and experiences, although sometimes they can be responsible for irrational behaviour and add stress to an otherwise mildly annoying situation.

Examine your own belief structure, the stress levels that you attach to dealing with certain situations and people, and see whether there are some areas in your life that create more stress for you than they should. Then try and change the way you see and respond to these things in order to diminish the associated stress related to those areas.
Develop your abilities to avoid or deal with conflict
The ability to successfully avoid or minimise the impact of stressful situations is the key to a happy life, both in and outside the workplace. Whether they are conscious of it or not, everyone develops their own coping strategies for resolving stressful encounters. Do you shy away from stressful moments or secretly like the drama? Do you bottle it up or explode? Do you smile at the time and then harbour your grievances in private?

By honestly observing how you deal with stress, you can then start to slowly reshape your coping strategies and responses to it. Don’t be surprised if you start to notice a real reduction in your stress levels, particularly because you have acted differently in what was a previously stressful situation.

See your friends, or make new ones
We have all been in situations where our stress levels have seemed to be at boiling point, and then we manage somehow to laugh about it over a social drink a couple of hours later.

Friends and supportive colleagues can serve as powerful valves for reducing stress in your day to day life. They may also share experiences with you that put your own stress into perspective and make you feel happier and more empowered to deal with the stress in your own life. Even if the stressful scenario seems like a worst case, friends can literally provide a shoulder to cry on, and help you to look outside the initial problem.

Learn how to relax
Most of all, learn how to relax, and teach yourself some new tricks if necessary. The truth is that we all get stressed from time to time, although it is our responses to these moments that set us apart from our friends and colleagues. Crucially however, if you learn how to truly relax in your quiet times, you will find your overall stress levels recede in the times when stress builds up.

Have a bath, do some yoga, eat well and take a walk. Doctors often say that stress is a killer, so do yourself, and those around you, a favour and take some steps to reduce it in your daily life.