According to a recently published study conducted by the American Psychological Association, Americans have gotten more stressed out in the past year. In 2014, most Americans rated their stress level at a 4.9 on a 10 point scale. In 2015, that number rose to 5.1. More worryingly, the amount of Americans who felt that they were living with extreme stress rose from 18 percent to 24 percent in the last year. While there isn’t a whole lot we can do to make worries about our finances, our health and our loved ones go away, we can change the way react to stress in order to keep it from negatively affecting our quality of life.

One of the most effective ways of treating stress is exercising more. In addition to normalizing blood pressure and burning fat, regular exercise plays an essential role in keeping our bodies sympathetic nervous system strong enough to process the physical effects of stress. Another useful stress fighting strategy is to maintain a consistent diet. By avoiding unhealthy fast food and sugary desserts, you’ll keep your blood sugar at a consistent level. That will keep your mental state balanced so that you can better handle stressful situations. And after enduring a particularly stressful day, it’s a good idea to partake in some relaxing activities like watching one of your favorite movies, getting a session in a massage chair or meditating.

Read the full article here: Americans Are Getting More Stressed Out, Find Study