How many times have you gotten angry at yourself for misplacing your keys, being late to meet a friend, or forgetting to pay a bill on time? Being angry at ourselves can be one of the most stressful experiences there is. We are our own worst critic. Trying to change this behavior for the better, even a little bit, can help you feel happier and less stressed. Try some of the following tips to get started.

A great way to reduce the stress that you experience is to reduce your caffeine intake. A large intake of caffeine can increase the levels cortisol in your body. Cortisol is the stress hormone in your body that helps to regulate many things including weight gain, mood swings, heart disease and diabetes. By decreasing your caffeine intake, you will naturally decrease your stress levels.

Take time for a mini self-massage. Taking the palm of your hand and simply massage it with the thumb of the other hand in a circular motion can help to relieve your stress. You could also use a massage tool to do this. Massage works wonders at getting rid of stress.

A great tip that can help you beat stress is to head outside and go for a hike. Going for a hike can be amazing at keeping stress down because it allows you to enjoy the soothing sights, sounds and smells of nature. You’ll also be getting some exercise which will help a lot as well.

To help cut down on your stresses, just say no! If you try to do everything that is asked of you, it will quickly cause stress in your life. Set limits and be clear, you cannot please everyone all the time, so stop trying or your stress will continue.

Try to get as much sleep as you possibly can during the course of the day, regardless of how much you have to work. Lack of sleep will result in increased stress levels, which can limit your productivity and hurt the way that you feel. Aim for 8 hours of sleep a night to feel your best.

A lot of the stress that you have as the day wears on is due to your appearance. Make sure that you look as good as you can during the day, even if this means waking up early to spend more time getting ready. Maximize your appearance to minimize your anxiety.

One of the most effective methods for reducing stress is going for a long walk. Not only does this remove you from the stressful environment it also allows you to clear your mind by being distracted. If you go alone be sure to take some nice music with you to help you feel even better.

If you are not the kind of person who enjoys running than you can also consider some type of martial art. The act of hitting an object or other person in an appropriate context can really help to ease the desire to hit people in the absolute wrong situations in life.

Try deep breathing exercises in order to reduce stress. Take one deep breath in and hold it for 3 seconds, then exhale as slowly as possible. Do this several times until you feel yourself starting to calm down. Breathing is one of the easiest ways we have to naturally calm ourselves.

Try giving whatever is bothering you a number on a scale from one to ten, where one is a minor bump and ten is the end of the world. You’ll probably find that most of your daily problems are no more than a five. In other words, they’re not worth getting upset about.

Take a deep breath before you react to any stressful situation. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and then continue with dealing with the situation. This simple task can be the difference between being professional, proactive and calm in the moment, versus reactionary, defensive and stressed.

Develop a social network. Your social network can be the most important lifeline you have against stress. Sometimes all that you need to relieve stress is to have someone to talk to. Other times you might need someone to volunteer to take over one of the tasks that is overwhelming you. Well developed social networks provide for such needs.

A great tip that can help you fight stress is to show gratitude for what you have each and every day. Doing this daily will remind you that you’re blessed and it will keep you in good spirits. You might start appreciating things you’ve never even thought of before.

As you can see, being kind to yourself really isn’t that hard, and it sure feels better than being stressed and angry. Don’t underestimate the ill effects of stress on your health. Factor the above tips into your daily habits, and you will be making a very positive investment in your health and your life.

Feeling Stressed Out? Here Are Some Tips To Feel Better was originally published on Spring