Have you been stressed lately? - Some everyday habits may be a sign of stress. We can help reduce our stress by first of all recognising the signs and then putting in place new habits to alleviate the stress. Are your shoulders often raised? - It is amazing once you think about this, how many of us do it! Have a think next time when you're at work, in a meeting, driving, or even watching TV. How are your shoulders right now? Are your shoulders relaxed and low? If they are slightly raised…..this is a sign of stress. Drop your shoulders, take a breath, and let those poor tight shoulders relax! Holding on to your steering wheel too tight? - This is something many of us do every day. Take time to think about how you are holding your steering wheel and if you find you are gripping on too tight…….relax your shoulders, arms, and hands. Keep hold of the steering wheel - but not so tight! Forget what you're doing and what you're meant to be doing? - This is true for many of us. In today’s world we have so many tasks, jobs and thoughts in our minds…..sometimes we just….well, forget what we are doing!! That’s ok. Next time that happens, how about trying to stop. Take 3 deep breaths and have a think about what your current task at hand is. One task at a time. Talking too loud and too fast? - Sometimes we feel we have to raise our voice or talk really fast to get our point across. This only gets us more worked up and increases stress levels of those around us. When you feel you are beginning to raise your voice…..try and slow down. Try to take a step back and be a listener rather than the talker. Even though you may get frustrated, it’s amazing how much you can learn being the listener. If you don’t like what you hear…...that’s ok too - keep breathing and get your point across in a carmly manner where possible. Sighing too much? - Ok, so we can all have those days where we sigh more than we smile. These days can be tough!!! Don’t worry - sighing is a way of releasing stress too. In fact, Scientific studies have found that intense emotional states, such as stress are associated with increased sighing. If you find yourself sighing all the time though, you should combine that with a deep breath in. Researchers have found that people report a greater sense of relief after taking a deep breath before sighing. Keep Breathing - Always remember no matter how stressed you are, try to stop and think about your breath. Begin to breathe in a slow and controlled manner. Controlled breathing can help reduce stress and help you get through your day, no matter how stressful it may be!