No matter where you live, everyone deals with at least some level of stress. However, some people deal with more stress than others. Sometimes it involves your job, while in other cases, it might include family obligations. Although we all have our own challenges in regards to stress, New Yorkers have some unique challenges.

New York City is one of the best places to live in the world, but it’s also one of the most hectic. From commutes to housing and finding time to do things that are essential to your mental health, here are a few ways you can reduce stress if you live in the Big Apple.

Care for Your Physical Health

The very first thing you should do to bust stress is to take care of your physical health. There are few things more stressful than dealing with an illness, like the flu, especially when you have work and other responsibilities that can be nearly impossible to deal with when you don’t feel well.

It also means taking a long-term approach to your health. Don’t put off going to the doctor for your annual checkup just because you feel well. Meeting with a doctor once a year is the best way to catch minor symptoms before they turn into huge problems.

Taking care of your health also means utilizing resources that are available to you if you are dealing with an illness or a medical condition. For example, you may be able to get free rides to doctors’ appointments, or funds may be available to you through the Victim’s Compensation Fund if you were affected by 9/11.

Rethink Your Commute

Commutes are never any fun. Some people spend an hour or more getting to and from work every day, especially in the city. That can be stressful when you could be using that time doing other things you need to do.

It’s important to rethink your commute. When you do, you can find ways to make it easier. For example, it may take you longer to walk where you’re going, but you may find that it’s less stressful than other forms of transportation. You may find that taking the ferry is faster than taking an Uber, or a bike is faster than the subway. Try new ways to get where you’re going and you just may find one that’s better than all the others.

Choose Your Roommates Wisely

It’s nearly impossible to live in New York City without at least one roommate. Rent can be outrageous! Just don’t make the mistake of choosing a roommate based on convenience. Instead, choose your roommates wisely and you can reduce much of the stress that comes with living with another person.

There are some practical things you will want to consider, like if they have the means to pay rent each month reliably and how messy they are, but you should also rethink living with a close friend. In many cases, it’s actually much better to live with an acquaintance. You don’t have to worry about the possibility of ruining your friendship, and moving in different social circles means you won’t be spending every minute of your spare time together.

Use NYC Secrets to Your Advantage

There are a lot of secrets in NYC that even New Yorkers don’t know about! These secrets, when taken advantage of, can make living in the city a lot easier. The easier it is to live and get around in the city, the less stress you’ll experience.

A few tricks you may want to try include:

• Navigate Central Park based on the four digit numbers on lamp posts
• Use secret passageways to cut through Times Square
• Check the rat database before moving into a new apartment
• Pay cab fare before your ride is over

Find Time to Exercise

It’s easy to run out of time when you live in New York City, especially if you have a long commute and you work long hours. No matter how little free time you have, you should use some of it to exercise.

Exercising is a great way to relax. Exercise can reduce stress hormones in the body, like adrenaline and cortisol. It also increases endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood elevators.

The good news is that you don’t have to try and make time to go to the gym, especially if you’re short on time already. Instead, take a walk, lift light weights in your apartment, or do some stretches before bed.

Prioritize Sleep

Not only should you make time to exercise, so too should you make time to sleep. Your memory, judgement, mood, and stress levels can all be impacted negatively if you don’t get enough.

Don’t work so much overtime and cut back the hours you work at your second job if it’s interfering with your sleep. Find a quicker commute, ask if you can work from home at least a few days a week, or find ways to take a midday nap if you’re finding it difficult to get at least seven hours of sleep every night.

Take a Class

It’s important to make sure you have enough time to exercise and sleep if you want to bust stress in the big city, but if you have a little spare time, especially on the weekend, you should take a class.

From art classes to music classes and exercise classes, there are a ton of ways you can learn new things and reduce stress. You can even find classes in the city that are free! Not only will a class help you forget about your worries for a while, you may also meet a new friend, which can be great for reducing stress.

Living in New York City is an experience unlike any other. Unfortunately, that experience often comes with more stress when compared to living in other cities around the country. Follow these tips and you can reduce common stressors that Big Apple residents face on a daily basis.