Are you stressed? Chances are good that you are too. In fact, even just statistically speaking, that's highly likely since more and more people are dealing with ever-increasing stress.

And stress can make you sick and cause all sorts of additional problems. So you have to do something about it. But what? Read on for a 5-part strategy to greatly improve your life and rid it of excess stress while helping you cope much better with the stress that may remain.

Step 1: Chill

Whatever is going on, the first thing you must do is find a way to calm yourself down. You're in the middle of a fight-or-flight reaction and it's counter-productive and hurting you to boot. Learn stress relief techniques that help you calm down fast.

Step 2: Find what's bugging you

The second step is essential. Find out what is the cause of your stress and acknowledge it. I'm not saying fix it. That may come later. For now, just openly acknowledging what's going on that's stressing you -- even if it is just to yourself, is a huge step -- and surprisingly a step that will help you reduce your stress levels. Why? Because we often expend enormous energy on trying to cover up whatever it is that's stressing us.

Step 3: Take steps to fix what's bugging you

Figure out what you can fix about the situation that's causing you stress and take steps at remedying the situation. Take it one step at a time. Even baby steps help.

Step 4: Develop strategies for remaining stressors

Develop strategies that help you cope with remaining stressors. You can't fix it all. But you can help yourself cope better. Do it.

Step 5: Increase resilience

This is where most stress management courses start: eat better, sleep more, get regular exercise. Those are all good, but they're just Band Aids if you don't first deal with the other four steps. So yes, take care of yourself, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and you'll be able to handle whatever life throws your way without getting (too) stressed.

Stress management is a complex endeavor.