1. Become aware of your stressors and your reactions.
   What exactly stresses you out, and how does it feel in your body? Do you clench your teeth; tighten muscles in your back or neck, does your heart beat faster?
    
2. Recognize what you can change.
   Sometimes stressors are beyond are control; the death of a loved one, a new manager at work, etc. When you define what you can and cannot change you can concentrate on dealing with what you can change practically, and dealing with what you cannot change with small changes to your lifestyle.
    
3. Reduce the intensity of your emotional reactions to stress.
   Are you viewing your stressors in exaggerated terms, expecting to please everyone, are you viewing things as critical that with some perspective become less important, are you dwelling on ‘what ifs’? With some practice at paying attention to our thoughts and emotional reaction to stress we can learn to moderate it.
    
4. Build your physical and emotional reserves.
   Exercise three to four times a week to help your body shed the chemicals that stress produces (walking, swimming, cycling, or jogging are excellent choices), eat well-balanced, nutritious meals (stress is a demanding physical process that requires a lot of nutrients and can sap your reserves).

Develop supportive friendships, set realistic goals for yourself that are meaningful to you, accept that sometimes things won’t go your way, and try to be gentle with yourself.

Shiatsu is an excellent choice to help your body deal with stress. Yoga and meditation are also great ways to help manage stress in your life.