I am lucky enough to have a small, quiet japanese Zen garden near by, and often take a few hours during a really busy time to just sit there and, well not meditate per say, but just sit down, drink tea and let my mind wander.
Usually stress is caused by the chaotic nature of everything arround you, so it often helps to give yourself some form of ritual activity during the day - for some people this is a sit down breakfast or dinner with the family at a specific time every day, for others this may be having tea at midday, it may be your daily 'beauty routine' or whatever.
A lot of people recommend things like stress balls - whilst I have a few myself, I find they are a quick fix and do not actually releave stress, but rather supress it.
I think the oriental countries like China and Japan have some really good methods for the release of stress. A relgion which centers largely on obtaining spiritual enlightenment through being 'at one' with ones self is reflected in their culture. Unlike religions like catholocism within which your spiritual enlightenment is found through abject devotion to a divine being. No offense to christians as a whole, but I think that the oriental (ie buddhist) method of finding enlightenment by first finding yourself is a far better basis for a religon. (I am not religious, and do not want to turn this topic into a relgious debate, just stating my observations as one who respects all religions and peoples right to believe in them, yet quietly says "I am fine not believing in any one faith or the occurance of divine beings thank you very much")