Stress is something that affects us all.  You get stressed at work when there are a million things to do and your boss keeps coming over to ask why they aren't done yet.  You get frazzled at home when your To-Do list seems never ending.  Your blood boils when you get stuck in rush hour traffic.  Stress has profound affects on your body: your heart races, your breathing increases, all your muscles tense as if ready to fight.  Stress can make you make you feel irritable, nervous, or jittery.

 A certain amount of stress is normal and unavoidable.  It increases the amount of certain hormones in your body that helps give you that "boost" when you need to get things done.  Chronic stress, however, starts to wear you down.  The hormones that give you a "boost" do not prevent you from becoming even more tired later, and all that extra effort really starts to take a toll on your body, mind, and spirit.  Stress has been linked to headaches, muscle pain, acne, mental issues like depression and panic disorder, even Alzheimer's disease.  With all these (and more) negative effects linked to stress, it is important to try and manage the levels of stress in your life.

In honor of National Stress Out Week, here are some suggestions you might want to try out for reducing and relieving stress:

 ZZZ: sleep is important in stress management.  It helps restore your body after a stressful event.

Get the munchies: Eating balanced meals goes a long way to keeping healthy and energized.  Your body can't handle stress if it's starving.  Even if you're busy, remember to eat healthy foods and not skip meals.

Time-out: Do some yoga, listen to music, meditate, get a massage, or just sit quietly.  Try not to let stressful thoughts creep up on you.  Step back from your problems and clear your head.

Exercise: Take some time to walk or jog, pump some iron, dance, or anything else that gets you moving.  Regular exercise releases mood-enhancing chemicals and makes you better at handling stress physically and mentally.

Positive wavelengths, Moriarty: Flip your negative thoughts over and try to make them positive.  Instead of "this project is way too hard", think "this project gives me a chance to sharpen my skills".  Sounds cheesy, but what you consciously think has a direct effect on how you feel.

Laugh it off: And speaking of positivity, humor is also a great way to handle stressful situations.

Talk it out: Talking with a friend, doctor/counselor, or family member reduces feelings of being overwhelmed.  Remember that everyone experiences stressors, both big and small.  They might even have some good advice or insight for you.

Focus on doing your best, not being perfect: Perfection isn't possible.  Perfectionism is also another form of procrastination, whether you recognize it or not.

 Discover what triggers you: Work? Family? School? You may have to make adjustments to permanently decrease the amount of stress in your life.

Management skills: Learn to manage your time well and you'll have a lot less stress in the first place.  Also, learn to say "no" when you don't have enough time for something, and stop feeling guilty about it.

These might sound like common sense: that's because they are.  These are also all things that everyone can do in ways that fit into their own unique situations.  For more info on stress, check out the American Institute of Stress Website: www.stress.org