Are you stressed out? Do the demands of life sometimes seem overwhelming? Don't worry — you're not alone. At some point, everyone deals with stressful seasons and situations. Fortunately, there are habits you can cultivate to help you prevent and deal with stress more effectively. Read on for several ideas to get you started. 

1. Prioritize Exercise

Design a simple, sustainable program of exercise and movement that addresses all your needs and lights you up. Make sure it's enjoyable. From trail running to pumping iron, there's no shortage of activities that will help you build up vitality and relieve stress. Check with your healthcare practitioner to get recommendations and clearance. Curious about ways to support your vitality? Do a search using terms such as what is Thrive to find helpful guidance. 

2. Focus on Nutrition

Do your best to eat plenty of nutrient-dense, whole foods. Get plenty of protein from varied sources, and boost your vegetable intake. When cooking, get creative with spices — it's a great way to make your diet more interesting and pack some nutritional punch. Cut down on sugar; you'll notice more even moods and energy, and will feel calmer overall. 

3. Get Plenty of Sleep

Getting at least seven hours of shut-eye (eight is ideal) is a powerful way to improve your metabolism, help replenish and repair, and decrease the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol. Make it a habit to get to bed at a decent and regular hour as much as possible. Decrease screen use or put your device in night mode. Refrain from stimulating or demanding activities, and allow yourself to wind down. 

4. Connect With Others

Reach out to supportive friends and family, and spend pleasurable time with them. While it's good to have alone time, don't isolate yourself. The hormone oxytocin, which is associated with feelings of care and bonding, is a potent stress reliever. It gives you a feeling of comfort and belonging, helping to mitigate feelings of overwhelm. Connecting with animals is a great way to relieve stress, too.  

5. Cultivate Your Spirituality

If you think of spirituality as being concerned with the deepest part of yourself, you can find a multitude of ways to nourish and cultivate it. If you have a religious affiliation that you're comfortable with, seek out its practices and community support. If you're more universal in your approach, try meditation or spiritually-oriented groups and workshops. Also, don't discount the power of the natural world to strengthen your spirituality. Take time to have a picnic, take a relaxed hike on your favorite trail, or simply sit in a beautiful outdoor setting. Your stress level will decrease. 

6. Know When To Say No

Saying "yes" to life often means adding wonderful things. It also means knowing when to say "no." Even if an activity is enjoyable, it can overwhelm your schedule so that you have little margin. First, take a look at what you've got going on leisure-wise, and remove events that you're not excited about. Then, add events that are fulfilling to you, and space them out in a way that suits your unique personality. 

7. Be Mindful of Your Inputs

Take a look at all of the media you consume in the course of a day. While some of it is necessary to fulfill your obligations as a contributing member of society, it's not necessary to be the first to know about everything all the time. The 24/7 stream of information from news sites, blogs, and social media is a lot for your nervous system to process, especially if you're an empathetic person. Also, take a look at the company you keep. As much as possible, stay around people who are positive and uplifting to be with. It'll make a big difference in your perception of the world around you. 

Reducing your stress involves caring for yourself holistically. Try these suggestions to feel calmer and more even-keeled.