Stressful times in our lives can often lead to unhealthy behaviors like overeating, skipping workouts, or eating a lot of high-sugar or high-fat foods.

Managing the stress in your life (whether it's a day-to-day minor stressor or a major life change) is important for all of us. Lowering your stress level may help reduce headaches, back and neck pain, blood pressure and your risk for heart disease. In addition, a low-stress lifestyle can improve your personal and professional relationships, enhance your peace-of-mind, and improve your overall health.

Here are some tips to help you manage the stress in your life so that you will be able to begin or maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, healthy eating, and managing your weight.

PRACTICE A LOW-STRESS WORKSTYLE
Create a friendly workspace by adding plants, vacation photos, pictures of family or friends, artwork, or children's drawings to your desk and office area.

TAKE A BREAK!
Find 2 or 3 good "get-aways" near your office --a bench along the Charles River or a grassy spot on Killian's Court is a good place to start. A break will relieve stress and temporarily free your mind from work. Taking a short walk during your lunch break is a great way to get your dose of daily exercise AND relieve stress. A relaxing break can also improve your concentration and productivity.

DEVELOP A LOW-STRESS ATTITUDE
Build your self-confidence by making a list of your strengths and accomplishments - it doesn't matter how big or small. Write them down on a small piece of paper that you can stick in a drawer or in your wallet. Pull it out whenever you need some "fuel" to get you through a difficult home or work situation. You may even want to post it in a prominent place so that you can be reminded of your accomplishments each day.

ASK YOURSELF IF YOUR REACTION WILL HELP
"Is this worth sacrificing my peace-of-mind?" "Will this improve my relationship with this person?" "Will this matter a month from now?"

LEARN SOME NEW STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Try Diaphragmatic Breathing or the Relaxation Response method. Here are some websites that can help you learn these techniques.
Relaxation Response
Diaphragmatic Breathing

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