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by Michelle Sutton-Kerchner Stress is a natural part of life. You can’t eliminate it. However, you can learn healthy ways to manage it … Stress usually has negative connotations. It is associated with excessive responsibilities, sick kids, overbooked schedules, and traffic jams. Used effectively though, stress can increase mental and physical functioning. Its release of fight-or-flight brain chemicals can energize us into action. It is impossible to banish all stressors from your life. Avoid the frustration of this futile attempt, and the additional stress it will cause. Instead, focus on better ways to deal with it. Start with these: Sleep Well Lack of quality sleep contributes to stress by exacerbating negative occurrences. Little hassles become disproportionately hard to manage. You are also inclined to make poor decisions and more mistakes when tired, which leads to more stress. Skip the Comfort Food Power up your brain and immune system with food for thought. No stress-attack needs to be fueled by sugar and caffeine. That only leads to a crash. Go for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like tuna. Snack on nuts and seeds. Essential nutrients improve concentration and help maintain energy. Monitor the amount you eat. Too much food can …

For success in this new year, focus on who you want to be rather than what you want to fix …

You know what needs to be done. Exercise more. Eat better (and perhaps less). Here’s how to do it better ...

About one-third of those who made new year's resolutions are expected to break them by the end of this month. Those fitness and wellness goals, which often top everyone’s goal list, become deeply buried under a wool blanket or sheet of ice ...

It’s a new year. Approach it with excitement. It is filled with promise. It is filled with a new chance to live up to your best potential …