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Although many Bristol people spent last weekend flying kites, back to work on Monday can mean that stress levels have started to rise again. Jobs in Bristol’s public sector are disappearing, and the spectre of redundancy is looming too for people in the city’s private sector.

Even if you are just getting stressed out by an email inbox with a life of its own, try the following five stress-busting strategies from Bristol Chartered Psychologist Sam Kotadia to help you keep your current levels of productivity high, and give your mind and body a boost.

1. Process-orientation

One major cause of stress is feeling that everything is out of control. To overcome this, focus on the controllable elements of your environment. Ignore events beyond your own influence and direct your attention towards controllable actions and processes. Positive results will follow.

2. Turn off your internal critic

The mind contains an inner critic that often casts a negative light on everything we do. The moment you hear this voice, imagine turning the volume down until you no longer hear it. This will weaken your own self-criticism, and thus reduce stress.

3. Smile in the face of adversity

Scientists have shown that the action of smiling releases chemicals that not only induce well-being but also promote healthy living. Get in the habit of smiling as regularly as possible and you'll find it easier to keep stress at bay.

4. Work out your values

Everyone has personal values, and in order to live a fulfilling life you need to act on them. When two of these values conflict, the result is stress. Take time to figure out your own values, and list them in order of importance. Whenever conflict arises, consult this list to be reminded where your priorities lie.

5. Learn to forgive

Stress is often created by the actions of those around you. If you have been wronged by someone, learn to forgive them. Obsessing over their past actions will only increase tension in their presence, and could result in a vicious circle of resentment that's bad for you both.

These top tips are featured in 52 ways to Beat Stress

Sam Kotadia runs an innovative publications house in Bristol that focuses on making positive psychology practical and accessible. Delivered in a card deck format, the publications are ideal for individuals looking to improve performance, or learn more about the power of being positive.

Sam’s publications have now been translated into Dutch, Arabic, and Hungarian, and sold across the world as a novel gift that inspires, and promotes successful behaviour in all walks of life.