We live in a world where many things can cause us great stress, whether it be something close to home (family, job, finances) or farther afield (politics, wars, global pandemics).

Yes, it’s a lot to cope with, and over time it can be incredibly detrimental to our health, both mentally and physically. So, I’m happy there are awareness campaigns such as National Stress Awareness Month.

This annual observance focuses on combating the harmful effects of chronic stress. While stress is an unavoidable part of life and can be experienced in situations that are both positive and negative, it can lead to a variety of health issues. Those include fatigue, anxiety, depression, headaches, muscle tension and—when it’s particularly serious—cardiovascular disease.

But with some focus, stress can be managed in relatively simple ways, allowing us to live happier, healthier lives.

Here are a few helpful stress-reduction tips you might consider:

Improve your diet: 

Eat whole foods, and curtail or completely eliminate stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.

Exercise: 

Increased exercise can lower your blood pressure, boost your endorphins and make you feel a whole lot better, whether you join a gym or just go out for a walk or run a few times a week.

Sleep more: 

Lack of sleep and the ensuing fatigue can lead to a plunge in overall well-being and eventually lead to increased anxiety and depression. It’s important to establish a calming vibe every night before you go to bed—and to curtail your screen time significantly.

Relax: 

In our go-go-go lives, simply taking time to relax can be difficult. But a daily regimen that includes meditation or mindfulness—or good, old-fashioned daydreaming—can substantially decrease stress levels.

Prioritize your schedule: 

Cramming too much stuff into a day inevitably causes stress, so check off the things that need to be done before pursuing the smaller-scale items.

Do something fun: 

Make time for enjoyable activities, such as hobbies, movies, concerts, dinners with friends, sporting events—really anything that puts you in a good mood.

Talk to someone: 

Sometimes, the best de-stressor is just talking about your problems with a trusted family member, friend, colleague or licensed professional therapist.

I can confidently say that if you proactively work to reduce your stress levels, eventually, you’ll feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally. And you’ll improve your overall health. What could be better than that?

Aditi Sharma, M.D., MPH, is a psychiatrist at The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice. She treats adults experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions, providing consultations and evaluations to develop personalized behavioral health and medicinal care plans. At The Wright Center, stress prevention is a significant component of behavioral health services for adults, children and adolescents. It also provides specialty services for children with severe mental illness as well as those who have experienced abuse or violence.