We all experience stress, and we all deal with in different ways.

1. Use a day planner.

Take a moment to write out your daily goals and task that you need to complete for the day. It is an effective way to help with time management. I like to write out mine the night before.

2. Breathing techniques.

When you feel like your stress level is at its peak, use the four-second breathing technique. Inhale through your nose for four seconds, and then hold for four seconds, and exhale through your mouth. Repeat till you feel calm. There are different breathing techniques, but this one works the best for me.

3. Think of something that brings you joy.

When you are extremely busy or in the middle of dealing with a stressful event, try to think of something that brings you happiness. Such as, I choose to envision a beach with the sun setting and no one else is around.

4. Take 10 to 15-minute breaks.

Sometimes taking short breaks can help get you through the rest of your day. At work, I choose to grab some water, a snack, and check my phone.

5. Use meditation apps.

Some apps are better than others. Most meditation apps come with time options of ten to thirty minutes of breathing focused or guided meditation. I will admit the music used with the apps is quite relaxing.

6. Take time for self-care.

Eating small meals or snacks every two to three hours is a sure way to keep your brain chemicals in check. It's also important to exercise as often as one can, get plenty of sleep, and limit caffeine and alcohol intake.

7. Do what you love in free time.

Balancing work, chores, and free time isn’t a piece of cake. Take the time at the end of your day to read a book, call a friend, play some tunes, or watch what’s on your DVR. It can melt away the stress of the day.

8. Don’t stress over the small stuff.

Getting wound up over simple things like an aggressive driver or something a friend or coworker said to you won’t help your stress levels. Most of the things we get angry about are all due to miscommunication. Think of the alternative reasons to people’s actions. We are not mind readers, but we can be mindful of our emotions. Someone speeding could be late to work or the person who said something rude didn’t mean what he or she said. Using positive thinking can benefit your mental health in many ways.

9. Keep a stress journal.

Keeping track of the situations that you feel stressed about can allow you identify the stressors and find ways to cope with the stress.

10. Learning there's nothing wrong with saying no.

Often people, such as myself, take on to many tasks at once. We want to do a favor for a friend or want to go out for some fun when we already have a busy, stressful day. Saying no might be the best thing for physical health, as well as your sanity. Go home and have a glass of wine and unwind. I recently in the last year or so figured out its okay to say no.