Unlike in the times of our ancestors, we live in a world bombarded with a wide variety of new stressors - frequent anxiety producing moments. Rather than being swifitly turned off as soon as danger passes or is dealt with (as is intended), our natural survival mechanism is itself now under constant stress.

This everpresent sense of danger keeps an unprepared body, mind, emotion, constantly anxious and fearful - stressed.

[Note: there are also individual physical, mental and emotional conditions that produce similar effects, the which require medical attention.]

Here are five effective techniques to help you keep every-day stresses in check.

1. Eat Well

The brain and the belly are always talking to each other. Help them maintain healthy conversations. Give them something good to talk about.

Eat real whole foods. Replace harmful susbtances with clean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. This regulates hormone levels. Maintain a healthy diet. That is an elevated conversation the brain enjoys. It will do marvelous things for you.

2. Dance

Yes, shaking your booty does wonders. Not to worry if you don't have a shakable booty, the quickest way to relieve stress is to release endorphins through exercise.

Dancing is a fun way to do this. So pump up that music (without upsetting your neighbors) and shake-shake-shake whatever God gave you. Shake-shake-shake! Get energized. This is an excitement the heart enjoys. It will join the conversation and you will do marvelous things.

3. Sleep Well

It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? If you're stressed, you won't sleep well, which means you are less prepared to deal with the next round of stressors, which makes sleeping that much harder, and - well you know how it goes. Put a STOP to it.

Your body needs its recommended hours of rest in order to recover well enough to prepare itself for the joys and duties of another day.

Decide to sleep. Unplug an hour or so before bedtime. Use a relaxation technique that works for you (There are many available.)

Remember: if you do not create time to rest you will not have time to be busy - you'll be dead! It is all a question of priorities. Get a good night's sleep, regularly. Stop the conversation. This kind of silence is GOLDEN!

4 Collect Positive Images

Yeah-yeah-yeah! You heard it before. "Think positive!" Well, it works well as a stress reliever. With so much negativity bombabarding you - every nagger-head hustling into your private conversation - you're finding it hard to maintain positive thoughts. I got that.

Let your eyes do the trick for you. It turns out this eye-trick is just as effective as the real experience of being in the good-place.

Set your eyes trained to uplifting images, tranquil images, beautiful images, calming images.

Let your mind recall those images frequently. You'll be surprised how easily it calms you down.

Go, get yourself a slew of positive images. Just do it. Costs you nothing. Gains you a lot. That's what I call a healthy return on your investment. Just do it. Good Science already proved it.

BTW, you don't really want me to tell you what to do with those nagger-heads, do you? Don't let me!

5. Breathe

Breathe! Yes. Breathe. It works wonders.

Isn't it amazing, the living body does this naturally - you think! Even babies know to breathe. Psych!

Stress clamps the breath. Anxiety clips the breath. It could well be this very second you are not breathing - you are holding your breath in anticiapation. Let it go! Your body needs oxygen. Your blood needs oxygen. Your brain needs oxygen. Breathe. Let it out.

Hear yourself breathe. Breathe deeply. Inhale. Exhale. Your spirit needs oxygen. Your mind needs oxygen. Don't starve yourself of fresh air (mentally, physically or spiritually). Breathe. Deeply. Regularly. Now that's what I am talking about.