We're living in a complex world where we have to deal with stress in every corner of our lives. In our homes, in our workplace, even in the most enriching moments we face situations that have the potential to challenge our well-being.

Stress is our body's response to what we believe to be a challenge. This response can be positive and help motivate us to peak performance. But we also experience the negative effects of stress when we believe the demands of the tasks at hand are more then we can manage.

Luckily there are steps we can take to prevent and manage the stress in our lives.

First Steps to Effective Stress Management:

1. Recognize that you have the power to make decisions, to more effectively manage your stress level
2. Recognize your personal Signs of Stress
3. Look more closely at your lifestyle and see what can be changed in:
   
   
   • Your work situation
   • Your family situation
   • Your thoughts
   • Your schedule

It would be nice if there were one simple way to manage stress, but all our challenges are as diverse and individual as we are. We've each got to figure out what works best for us in all sorts of situations.

While there's no "magic pill" for stress management, there are many things you can do to prevent and manage stress in your life:

• Be Active
• Eat Well
• Manage your Time
• Rest and Relax
• Consider your Personality
• Get Help
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