Three great ways to deal with stress

17975001_S Dealing with stress is no easy task. Whether you’re facing an important deadline at work, having trouble getting your kids to do their homework or struggling with a to-do list that seems to grow longer each minute, stress is an inevitable part of the lives of most Americans. Even though it’s difficult to avoid stress, there are smart ways to manage it. Here’s how to make stress, well, less stressful.

  1. Take one thing at a time. Oftentimes we get stressed out when we have a lot on our to-do list. So we try doing multiple things at a time. Here’s the problem: Research shows that multitasking makes most people more stressed, not less! Studies also have shown that multitasking doesn’t help most people increase their productivity.
  2. Keep your to-do list as small as possible. It’s been shown that people who make to-do lists tend to get more done. However, if your to-do list is too long, it can be counterproductive. Try to keep your to-do list to about three important tasks per day.
  3. Eat healthy and get enough sleep. Getting too little sleep and snacking all day on processed foods with little nutritional value can make you feel more stressed. New research shows that simple things like getting enough sleep, eating healthy and taking short walks can be powerful de-stressors. Try to make small changes each week, such as bringing a healthy snack to the office or going to sleep a half hour earlier. Remember that it takes about a month for most people to form new healthy habit.

Clean up that car! Clutter can be a big safety issue

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If you’re like most parents, each of your children probably has a number of toys and books stashed in your vehicle. Plenty of your stuff is probably in there, too. With harried Moms and Dads racing through busy days, the family vehicle often becomes the “storage room” of last resort.

Some people are comfortable with a certain level of clutter. But when it comes to the family vehicle, clutter can become a huge safety issue. The more stuff you have in your car, the more potential flying projectiles you could have in the event of a sudden stop or car accident. Even things you think are perfectly safe, like a sippy cup, have the potential to become a projectile missile that can ruin a perfectly good day. Each year, tens of thousands of injuries, including head injuries, are attributed to objects in cars.

That’s why it’s a good idea to do a clean sweep of your vehicle once a week. If you have a passenger car, store extra items in your trunk. If you’re hauling the family pet along with you, make sure they are properly restrained with a seat belt. Animals can become flying projectiles, too! Keep heavy items stored and secured in a cargo net. And don’t forget unoccupied booster seats. If a child isn’t riding in a booster seat, put it in the trunk.