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80% of American adults in the workforce feel stress about their jobs. And this is just in the workplace and doesn't take into account familial relationships, friendships, community stressors and so on. The list feels like it is never ending when it comes to stressors. We have compiled below a list of five ways you can help your body and mind deal with stress in your day to day. As always any recommendations are for educational purposes and you should follow up with your physician or health provider before engaging in any program.

Stress. Even saying the word is enough to evoke feelings of agitation, disquiet, and ultimately worry. According a recent survey, 80% of American adults in the workforce feel stress about their jobs. And this is just in the workplace and doesn't take into account familial relationships, friendships, community stressors and so on. The list feels like it is never ending when it comes to stressors. We have compiled below a list of five ways you can help your body and mind deal with stress in your day to day. As always any recommendations are for educational purposes and you should follow up with your physician or health provider before engaging in any program.

Declutter your environment and your mind.

As human beings we are wonderful at nesting. See a space, fill it is the mentality; and assuredly across America there are plenty of cars parked in the drive while the garage has amassed enumerable gadgets. Kitchen counters, closets, toy boxes in the family room. We are wonderful at amassing items: papers from school, toys, DVDs, clothing, receipts, books, you name it. So start to declutter and organize your space. Make it so the environment makes sense to you and you can spend less mental energy searching for items. This as well will help with your mind and will ultimately help you focus longer on tasks around you. To help your mind declutter start writing to-do lists, prioritizing errands, and assigning tasks.

Exercise Regularly

Even if you exercise just a bit say a 10-20 minute walk after supper, your body and mind can benefit. Studies continuously show that just simple movements, walking, jogging, dance, yoga, aerobics can assist your body in processing and working with stressors. The overall goal however not to stress your body further, so don't train strenuously. Think more along the lines of long term physical and mental health versus training for a triathlon next month.

Make Some Dietary Changes

A great many eat when they are stressed. It's a natural inclination to comfort our selves with food. But if you find yourself continuously reaching for that chip bag the moment you begin thinking or talking through something that is upsetting, you may be working to make stress a further health issue. As well think about what you are putting in to help you power through your day. If you are filling in with empty carbs in the name of comfort you could be making your body deal with more agitation with less fuel. As well alcohol can make stress worse by slowing your thinking processes making it take longer to deal with stress and anxiety.

Identify Your Stressors

Stress can be tricky in that what we first feel is stressing us isn't the underlying concern. So it takes some processing to dig deeper to determine what it is that is causing anxiety. A stressor is defined as: anything that makes you feel uncomfortable and brings you stress. It could range from Environmental (Crowds, Noise Levels, Long Lines) to Social/Work (Family and Managerial Expectations) to Financial and everything in between. The point being that you can't work through the stress you are feeling until you identify that which is causing you stress. So take some time to think through situations and how they made you feel.

Get Enough Sleep and Take Time To Relax

These two go hand in hand. But it stands to reason that if you are continuously pushing your body to deal with stressors without giving it respite it cannot keep enduring. We will have a follow up article this month on getting the right sleep amount, but overall an adult in their 40s should aim for 7-9 hours a night. As well cut out noise from the television and refrain from alcohol before you sleep. It can be more of a quality over quantity concern, so getting not just your hours in but the amount of sleep in those hours is key.

Also take time to relax with family, or by yourself working on a hobby you enjoy. These mental breaks can help your mind and body rebuild in order to deal with stressors in your day to day life.

Have other tips for working with stress in your day? Let us know on our Facebook Page.