When one small concern or a difficult situation sends your stress levels up a few notches, it can be hard to get back on track. The worry, anxiety and negative thoughts that float around in your head can cause you to become scattered, irritable or even plagued with self-doubt.

Using journaling prompts to relieve everyday stress can be helpful for anyone looking to manage their stress and emotions more effectively. Not only is expressive writing a great way to release and process feelings, but it also has long-term benefits for the physical health of a person.

The first step to starting a journaling practice is to find a quiet place, light a stress-relief candle if that helps you relax, and take some deep breaths. During this time, try to identify what is causing you the most anxiety.

If you're able to, write down every worry that has popped up. Once it is out of your head, you can move on to a more positive topic and regain your focus.

You can also use a gratitude journal to list the good things in your day. It's important to acknowledge what goes right for you so that you can recognize that it's possible to overcome the stressors that can arise in your life and enjoy greater overall happiness.

When used consistently, journaling prompts can help you to spot the early signs of stress and anxiety, and give you the chance to work with a therapist to improve your daily stress management. It can also improve your emotional intelligence, helping you to better understand your own emotions and respond more effectively to situations that may stress you out.