Life throws curveballs at us every day. We do our best to deal with unexpected situations and challenging events in our lives. However, research shows that prolonged stress and anxiety can reduce life expectancy. Simply put, stress is a killer.

Are you able to identify and recognize the stress you are experiencing? You can probably count at least 10 ways that stress has negatively impacted your life. Awareness is crucial to start strategizing your survival plan. So what are you doing about it? Learn these 5 great stress-busting tips that are sure to not only help you get through it and survive, but actually thrive.

Anti-stress tip #1: Meditate daily.
Even if it’s just five minutes a day, meditation helps you take a few moments to calm down, relax, take a deep breath, gain clarity, and focus on your life. Through your meditation practice, you acknowledge and prioritize yourself. You are guiding yourself to set daily intentions or personal goals. You are setting yourself up for success. If you have never mediated before, don’t worry. There are a variety of quality meditation apps readily available to guide you as you explore the benefits of meditation, many free of charge. You will start to feel calm and confident again and you will begin to feel your stress melt away as you practice daily meditation.

Anti-stress tip #2: Practice self-care physical activities.
There is no doubt that you are aware of the importance of the basics of self-care: a healthy and balanced nutritional plan, daily exercise and adequate sleep to live your best life. Knowing is one thing; do is something else. Self-care addresses and reduces the harmful effects of stress on the body.

Be purposeful in practicing these three principles of self-care:

Be aware of the food you eat. Plan ahead and be sure to nourish your body with a healthy, nutrient-balanced regimen that includes protein at every meal, a variety of vegetables, fruits, and plenty of water. Eating healthy brings positive energy to your body and is key to a healthy quality of life.

Be mindful of organizing your day to include a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise. Endorphins are released when you exercise, improving your emotional outlook and providing a heightened sense of well-being. In addition to the physical benefits, when you incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine, you feel less stressed, more relaxed, and ready to take on any challenge that comes your way. In fact, many people claim that they do their best to solve problems and generate ideas during their daily training. Whether it’s running, yoga, working out at the gym, or even walking your dog, make it a daily habit and take the opportunity to re-energize and de-stress.

Focus like a laser on making sure you get a restful, restful night’s sleep and that recharges you to wake up each morning ready to start a new day. The amount of sleep varies for each individual. Whether it’s 7 or 8 hours, or a little more or less, studies have shown that maintaining a consistent schedule of going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning is key to optimal good health. Sleep relaxes you and recharges your personal battery, equipping you to face any challenge that comes your way, without undue worry and stress.

Anti-stress tip #3: Practice attitudinal self-care.
In addition to the three basics of self-care mentioned above, let’s add another critical element of self-care: attitudinal self-care. You’ve heard the expression “You are what you eat.” Similarly, one of my Essential Mottos is: “You are what you THINK about.” Practice positive thinking as much as possible. You’ve heard the expression, “If you can conceive it, you can achieve it.” With more positivity in your life comes less stress, or at least manageable stress. You will be able to think of solutions to your everyday challenges. Do you see the glass half full or half empty? With a focus on attitudinal self-care, you’ll begin to see the glass as half full. And then your view of your world is likely to be more open to infinite possibilities and probabilities. Another of my essential mottos is: “There are no problems… only solutions”. See your glass half full. See the endless possibilities. Smile and practice positivity every day, as much as possible. Your positive attitude will allow you to stress and worry less, and you will likely reap incredible benefits for your mind, body, and soul.

Stress Tip #4: Reach out to a friend.
Social isolation increases the likelihood of loneliness, negative self-esteem, and stress. Interacting with family and friends will help neutralize any anxiety and stress you may be feeling. Reaching out to a trusted friend or family member is a positive step forward. Even if you are reluctant to make that call or send a text, know that there is a loving and supportive network out there for you to reach out to…and be encouraged to connect with others. Taking care of a pet is also therapeutic. Positive social interaction and connection is key to reducing your stress levels.

Stress Tip #5: Be more resilient.
A Japanese proverb reminds us that, “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that endures.” You may notice that some people seem to be able to handle their stress better than others. You may also wonder, in particular, why they seem to handle their stress better than you do. Learning to be more resilient will allow you to take it easy, cope better, and handle difficult situations without undue anxiety or stress. Practice more flexibility in your life. Be less rigid. Get stronger. You will stress less and become stronger like the oak of the Japanese proverb.