Stress is a normal part of life (work! family! finances!) but it's important to keep it in check before it overwhelms you.

Arm yourself with a strategy for dealing with, and lowering, your stress before it affects your health or well being. Whatever strategy works for you is great: meditate, repeat a mantra, follow a daily exercise plan, practice deep breathing or simply find someone you can confide in.

Your Challenge: Create a stress strategy for yourself and remember to use it at least once each week.

• Financial Fitness Quiz: How fit are you?
• Stress Management Basics from the Mayo Clinic
• Just Breathe: Body Has Built-In Stress Reliever, NPR

De-Stress in 45 Seconds or Less, from Lifehack.org

1. Read a funny poem. Try Dr. Seuess or Shel Silverstein
2. Blow off steam. Get up and get moving. Extra points for doing this outside in the fresh air.
3. Follow your nose. Take a whiff of a relaxing, invigorating scent like lavender, orange or mint.
4. Have a go-to, energizing song. Turn up the volume and change your attitude.

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