Stress is a part of life. With that being said, you can learn to control stress and not let it consume you. With some effort and your personality, you can make stress a small part of each day, and not a huge part. Here’s some tips on how to deal with stress.

Create an affirmation. This is a rote statement you can say to activate your defense mechanisms against stress. Use it as a mantra to silence any doubts about yourself that may be making you more stressed. You will feel much better if you continually repeat that you can feel calm and you can feel better.

Take time to smell the roses, and many other plants, and watch your stress melt away. Basil, thyme, chamomile, lavender, rose and peppermint all produce soothing scents. All you have to do is put some rock salt and few oil drops into a vial. Whenever stress starts to overtake you, just smell one of your favorite aromas.

A professional massage can help reduce stress. When your muscles are tense, this can be a sign that you are carrying stress in your body. An experienced masseuse will be able to work out much of the stress and tension in your body, leaving you relaxed and rejuvenated.

Pets are a great way to relieve stress. Studies have shown that the act of stroking an animal’s fur for a short period can help ease stress.

Find out what is stressing you in life, and the find a way to completely eradicate that problem. One example would be a friend who is constantly causing you to feel stressed and unhappy. Work to change that relationship or create distance between you and that person. You can significantly improve your well being, as well as your health, by reducing or eliminating the identified sources of stress.

Let the people you are in frequent contact with know that you are stressed, and reiterate that if you seem irritable, it is not their fault. Many times, your significant other, and even your children, think your stress is directly related to them. Your stress is your problem, so you shouldn’t make those around you feel as if it is their fault, because they are the ones that love you the most.

Spearmint oil is a good stress reliever. Whenever you find that you’re becoming stressed, put a dab of the oil on your neck and on the underside of your wrists. Little steps like this can really make a difference, so give it a try!

Every funny event you experience or joke you hear should go into it. The journal will be fun, and writing things down creates a focus point in which you can use what you are writing to change your attitude.

If you need a break from stress, take some time to relax and daydream. Let your imagination go off on its own and visualize a stress-free oasis where you are simply free to be. This daydreaming exercise is useful for disassociating yourself from stress for a short while.

Making the effort to keep stress as a minor annoyance, instead of a major one, takes time. Tuck these tips away for a time when you’re experiencing stress, and then you’ll feel more in control of your feelings. Don’t let stress take over your life; use these tips to deal with it.