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S T R E S S

Give Yourself a Time Out

Time and stress. It seems you can't have one without the other. This is certainly true in today's world. THere's always too much to do and not enough time to do it. While keeping up, you may forget that too much stress can take a great toll on your body.

Excessive stress is linked to major health problems like heart disease. It can also trigger other ailments, such as headache, backache, and irritable bowel syndrome. It may even make you more likely to catch a cold.

Timely responses to stress. But how much is too much? that's hard to say because stress affects each person differently. Some people need a certain level of stress to feel motivated or excited. For others, the same amount of stress can sink them into depression.

Most people can tell when their stress levels are rising. When you feel stress mounting, try these tips:

• Exercise regularly. Exercise is one of the best all-around antidotes to stress. Besides distracting you from your troubles, exercise leaves your whole body more relaxed. Aerobic activity is especially effective.
• Make sure, though, that you are exercising at a pace and on a schedule that feels natural. Trying to follow a rigid, demanding program can add to, rather than decrease, your stress.
• Get good sleep. We are a nation of tired people. SOme sources claim that we sleep an hour less each night than our great-grandparents did. Yet, nearly everyone feels better equipped to deal with daily ups and downs when they are well rested.

Regular exercise, once again, is one of the best things you can do for your sleep. It can increase the most restful phase of sleep. You should also try to:

• Make sleep a priority. You probably know how much sleep you need. Recognize its importance and make sure you get enough.
• Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
• Keep sleeping quarters quiet and dark.
• Limit your alcohol intake. You may think alcohol relaxes you, but it can actually interfere with your sleep, expecially with the quality of your sleep. And if you drink to excape from stress, alcohol can become a problem – only adding to your stress and to your health problems.

Follow these helpful hints on reducing stress and you can enjoy a longer & healthier life.