We're all stressed way too much -- I don't think anybody disputes that. Our schedules are too busy, our jobs too demanding, our family times too rushed. And although it seems like we're always talking about how we need to take it easy and relax,how often do we really make good on that? One bubble bath once every six months just isn't going to cut it!

The best stress relief happens when it's built right into your life, and the trick is to form a set of habits that you do on a regular basis without really thinking about it. You don't have to think "this action is meant to decrease my stress" in order to reap the relaxing and re-energizing benefits from it. Here are 5 ways to build stress-relief into your life:

• Grow and tend a garden Becoming a gardener (even if it's just a "container gardener") is shown to help people relax. Studies have linked working with plants (flowering plants have more of an effect than non-flowering ones) with lower blood pressure, better concentration, and less frequent illnesses. Keep an ivy plant or an African violet on your desk at work.
  
• Take a nap Sleep is one of the single best things you can do for your body, your mind, and your soul! Take a 15-20 minute power nap on your lunch hour for a rejuvenating boost.
  
• Take up a 'slow hobby' Although all hobbies are good for relieving stress 'slow hobbies' (anything you enjoy that requires mindful, solitary attention) are especially effective at breaking up the hectic cycle of speed and stress. Slow hobbies are things like knitting, painting, sculpting, crossword puzzles, etc. Instead of gabbing at the water cooler, spend your daily breaks sitting outside working on your hobby.
  
• Eat slower You can actually make your body feel stressed by eating too fast, resulting in increased amounts of the stress hormones cortisol and insulin. Thankfully, though, the opposite is also true: slower eating creates a relaxation response in the body. Try to avoid "working lunches" and take the time to slow down and enjoy your food.
  
• Forget multitasking! Most of think that by multitasking at the end of the day we'll have gotten more done, but that's usually not the way it works out. Studies show that by focusing on just one thing at a time not only are we able to concentrate better and get more done faster, but we make less mistakes, reduce chronic stress, and protect our short-term memories from getting overtaxed.