From rush hour, to longer working hours to family and household issues, stress is a part of our modern lives. Hina Khan, relationship strategist and host of Save Us from Our House offers tips to help you cope when you start to feel overwhelmed.

1. Take a Breather
Focus on taking breaths which are based and centered in your midsection - around your belly button. Focus on your breath going from your chest to your stomach, like a wave. Repeat this 5-8 times to engage your body and mind.

2. Moving On Up
One of the best things you can do is to get your body moving. Take a quick walk around the block. Moderate exercise releases chemicals which make you feel good. Practice your diaphragmatic breathing while taking this 5-minute break.

3. The “So What?” Clause
Train yourself to bring your negative runaway thoughts to a stop. Instead of asking “What if?” ask yourself, “so what?” Press the fast-forward button in your imagination to five minutes, five days or five weeks from the moment of stress. Will this thing even matter by then? Most likely the answer is no. Look at the larger picture.

4. Reaction Retraction
Learn to respond, not react. Reacting is a reflex – we default to a negative pattern of thought and behaviour. When we respond, we do so out of a conscious choice. When we allow our emotions to run us, we are reacting. Responding lets us fell more in control of the situation, and in turn, more control of our lives.

5. Jive Talkin’
Talk to the anxiety directly. Tell it that it “won’t win”. Acknowledging the stress will help in dealing with it. Thinking positive through the stress will help to dismantle and disarm the physical symptoms of the anxiety as opposed to denying the feeling or thoughts.