With stress levels reaching alarming levels, more experts are encouraging people to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Although you may find yourself dealing with stress on an everyday level, there are several ways that you can unwind and de-stress yourself unless you want to head for a nervous breakdown. Here’s how...

- Too much stress is known to cause headaches, depression, insomnia and digestive problems among others. Put some time aside just for yourself and do something that will relax you.

- Never bring work back home. It’s bad enough that you’re stressing about assignments during work hours that you carry the stress home as well. If it is really unavoidable, bring it home only once a week. Make a list every morning about what you need to accomplish during the day and stick to it.

- Even if you can put aside just 20 minutes daily to sit down and read a chapter or two of a book, it helps to put your mind at rest. Find a quiet place in your house where no one will disturb you and read what you want. It could be comics, romance novels or even non fiction. Stay away from depressing or serious books.

- Music is known to have great healing qualities. Just a few minutes everyday of listening to some soothing music will give you the much needed peace that you crave for. Put on your headphones or stereo and let the music work its way into your system.

- Reduce clutter in your surroundings. A house that is filled with junk will only overwhelm you. Spend a few minutes before you go to bed every night to clear the room. When you come back home after a long day at work, you’ll have only yourself to thank.

- Breathing is known to work wonders on people. Deep breathe a few minutes daily. This will clear your head and help you unwind.

- As strange as it sounds, nothing helps a tired soul relax more than a nice, warm bath. Not only will you have some time for yourself, but having a bath before going to bed will help relieve tension in your muscles and help you relax. Besides giving you better sleep.