INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Life can be stressful, so how can you manage it? Andee Bookmyer with Indianapolis Moms recently wrote an article on the subject and joined Daybreak on Wednesday with advice on how to shrink your stress. Here are some of her tips: 1) Walk More. Walking seems so ba sic, and helps us physically in many ways, yet it can also prove beyond powerful for mental health because it purges tension and releases endorphins that ultimately improve your mood. If you are confused about something, walk. Upset about something? Walk. Trying to process something? Walk.  2) Let Them… and then Let YOU. “The Let Them Theory” by widely-acclaimed author Mel Robbins offers such invaluable advice about not allowing others to deprive you of your time, peace, energy or joy. She reminds us of our innate ability to protect our personal power; it lies in our reaction to stress or chaos. In other words, let others say what they want and think what they want to think and be whoever they want to be; you can choose not to absorb their attitude and behavior.  3) Sleep like it’s your job. Sleep is beyond crucial to maintaining improved physical, mental and emotional health. We need sleep to regulate our mood, boost our energy, spur our productivity, enhance our interpersonal relations… all of it. Without quality sleep, the ability to cope with everyday stressors proves more challenging.  4) Conduct a life audit. Sit down and create an honest assessment of your happiness level overall and with your career, relationships, health, travel, fitness, nutrition, sleep, goals, etc. When you take the time to reflect and recognize your strengths as well as your growth edges, you can be better equipped to make any necessary changes; your quality of life is key.  5) Create. Move. Breathe. We were meant to create; not just sit and scroll or binge watch television. We were meant to move and appreciate our bodies. We were meant to take a deep breath and look around at the sky and the grass and the beauty around us. When we do more creating, moving and breathing, we can reduce our stress as well as be more pleasant and inspiring to those around us. ...read more read less