The month of April has been designated as National Stress Awareness Month. Most of us deal with stress in some form or another every single day. In fact, with our hectic lifestyles and schedules, it often seems like we live and breathe stress. So, what can we do about it?

Since stress will always be a part of our lives, it's important to learn healthy ways to cope with stress. According to everydayhealth.com, here are ten easy tips for stress relief:

• Exercise. Find a physical activity you enjoy doing to get the best benefit. Taking a 20-minute walk around the block can yield up to 12 hours of improved mood!
• Socialize. Spend time with friends and family who give you a sense of belonging, purpose and fun. 
• Write. Writing about a situation that is bothering you may reduce tension and give you stress relief. In addition, keeping a journal can help you solve problems or find positive angles among the stressors.
• Laugh. Laughter really is the best medicine. It is proven to lower tension, improve blood flow and improve the health of your heart. 
• Take care of yourself. When tension spikes, it is easy to put yourself last. However, you need to prioritize healthy eating, physical activity, relationships and sleep to avoid making your stress worse.
• Get some fresh air. If you are cooped up inside all day, take a few minutes to get outside and see the sun. It can actually improve your mood and help you relax.
• Be kind to yourself. Thinking negative thoughts only makes you feel bad and increases stress. Think positive – tell yourself you are doing a good job and believe it! 
• Meditate. Practice deep breathing and meditation exercises daily, especially when you feel tension rising.
• Be thankful. Being thankful for the positive aspects of your life including family, friends and loved ones has a calming effect. Not only does it provide perspective, but it also makes other people feel good.
• Make a change. Sometimes you need to simply remove the source of tension.

Remember that you don’t have to live with constant tension from stress. Keep trying different stress-relief techniques until you find the best ones for you. If you can’t find relief from your stress after lifestyle changes, talk to your doctor.