A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress.
The process can be simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes. Practice your breathing and let any distracting thoughts float by like clouds.

Give yourself a 5-minute break from whatever is bothering you and focus instead on your breathing. Sit up straight, eyes closed, with a hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose, feeling the breath start in your abdomen and work its way to the top of your head. Reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth.

A 2012 study published in the journal PLoS ONE, found that work-related exhaustion can damage your skin cells and expedite the aging process. Take a day off and relax. Most companies have a personal day policy. Don’t let your personal days go to waste! Make sure to set a vacation response on your corporate email. Don’t let anything interfere with your day of relaxation.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a stressful situation, try taking a break and listening to relaxing classical music. Playing calm music has a positive effect on the brain and body, can lower blood pressure, and reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.

Laughter releases endorphins that improve mood and decrease levels of the stress-causing hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Laughing tricks your nervous system into making you happy. The next time you feel overwhelmed and stress, try sitting back and watching a funny movie. Or visit YouTube and look for comedians.