Regular exercise reduces stress levels. Exercise helps relax tense muscles, which makes you sleep better. 

Exercise improves blood flow to your brain - this increases oxygen and nutrient supply to your brain cells, thus helping you think intensely.

When you think, neurons in your brain build up toxic waste products. The increased blood flow to the brain during exercise removes these waste products faster & more efficiently.

Further, exercise releases chemicals called endorphins into the blood stream. These give you a feeling of happiness and well-being - and relieving stress.

Eating regular, balanced meals provides your brain with the nutrients it requires and reduces stress.

Also, make sure your body is well hydrated. Your body, particularly your brain, needs it not only to function better, but also to avoid stress.

Confiding in a friend or partner about your stress helps unload it. Sometimes just getting it off your chest helps reduce stress.

Keeping your sense of humor helps reduce stress. Being grateful for everything - noticing the silver lining in your life and not just the dark clouds - helps keep stress in check.

When you feel stress overpowering you, take some time off to get some peace and solitude. Taking a walk or a bath, or meditating can help eliminate stress. Even slowing down and enjoying the moment will do the trick. 

Don't just think about exercise and nutritious food as necessary evils for getting into those tight jeans. Instead, think about it as a means for protecting you and your life in this world.

Keep track of situations that stress you out. The conditions that place demands on us that exceeds our ability to cope - or stress us - are as unique as you are. 

Genes, personality and life experiences all influence the stress response in your body. Daily schedule of activities (e.g., daily commute, or too much work) with hassles and demands also contribute to your stress levels. Over time such persistent little things can accumulate and wreak more havoc on your health.

Hence keep a stress journal to recognize all the causes of stress. For one week, record which events along with date and time that cause a negative physical, mental or emotional response. Rate the intensity of the stress on a scale of 1 (not very intense) to 5 (very intense), rate the intensity of your stress.

This will help you in avoiding full effects of the stress and also anticipating it.

Look to simplify your life. Reduce the number of activities and organize your life better. 

Effective time management can help you identify goals, set priorities and minimize the stress in your life. To lower your stress levels:

• Create realistic expectations and deadlines for yourself and set regular progress reviews.
• Get rid of unimportant papers on your desk and periodically prepare a list of to-do's and work on that list each day
• Use a planner. Store addresses and telephone #s
• For especially important or difficult projects, make a habit of reserving an interruption-free block of time behind closed doors.