The amount of stress we face — and how we handle it — has a real impact on our health. Early signs of unresolved stress include sleeplessness, headaches, irritability, and fatigue. Poorly managed over a long period, stress can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, ulcers, and heart disease.

The key to preventing problems is not to avoid stress entirely (which isn't possible anyway) but to harness it and know your limits. This means identifying the negative stressors in your life and learning how to cope with them effectively.

One proven way to cope with stress is regular physical activity. Dr. William Ross put it nicely in the book Life and Healthwhen he wrote, "Deliberate and appropriate exercise enables modern man to release psychological tension and achieve physical relaxation."

To get the desired effects, it's important to choose the right activities. Do things you enjoy that suit your routine and schedule. It's counterproductive, to say the least, if you're getting stressed out trying to fit your activity into a busy day.

Pursue your activity three or more times a week and stick with it. Reduced levels of stress and anxiety will stay with you when you have firmly established an activity habit.

Beyond physical activity, there are other ways to cope with the stress and demands of work and family responsibilities. Here are a few suggestions:

Set priorities; don't rush. You can be active and busy without being hurried. At work and at home, determine priorities, then strive to accomplish things in both a logical fashion and a reasonable length of time.

Keep a diary. Stress can come from not being sure what you want. A diary is a wonderful tool for self-discovery; when you record your emotions and experiences — the good as well as the bad — you can start to see important patterns emerge. You don't have to write in your diary every day, but you should reread it regularly.

Talk to others. Problems can seem worse when you keep them to yourself. Make adequate time to deepen friendships, and share your concerns with a trusted friend or relative. This can help you see your situation in a new light, which may be the first step toward a constructive solution. If your problems seem to be getting out of hand, don't hesitate to seek professional counselling.

Finally, listen to your body. It will tell you when you're pushing too hard. When warning signs like sleeplessness or fatigue appear, slow down. Have some fun! Indulge yourself. Enjoy life's little pleasures.