Caring for family members with dementia or being generally in a stressful position is taxing. But there are strategies to combat anxiety, according to a new study published on Health Psychology.

According to lead author Judith Moskowitz, professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, eight skills can help us to live better day by day and even improve our health.

1. Recognise a positive event each day.

2. Taking the time to savour positive events.

3. Keep track of the things we are thankful for in a daily journal.

4. Identify and use one of our personal strengths.

5. Set a reachable goal every day.

6. Think of a relatively minor factor of stress that happened and try to rethink it in a new way.

7. Practice a small act of kindness - being nice or of help to others is a boost even to our immune system.

8. Practice mindfulness by paying attention to daily experiences, concentrating on breathing 10 minutes a day helps to focus and calm the mind.

Having a positive outlook can definitely make an impact on those negative feelings of stress and anxiety.