Listen to your body, so that you know when stress is affecting your health. From the federal government's National Women’s Health Information Center, here are ways to handle stress before it handles you:
• Relax. It’s important to unwind. People have their own ways of relaxing, such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy. If you can’t do these things, take a few minutes to sit, listen to soothing music, or read a book.
• Make time for yourself. Think of this period as an order from your doctor, so you don’t feel guilty. No matter how busy you are, you can try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day to do something for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, or calling a friend.
• Sleep. Sleeping is a great way to help both your body and mind. Your stress could get worse if you don’t get enough sleep. You also can’t fight off sickness as well when you sleep poorly. With enough sleep, you can tackle your problems better and lower your risk for illness. Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
• Eat right. Try to fuel up with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Good sources of protein can be peanut butter, chicken, or tuna salad. Eat whole grains, such as wheat breads and wheat crackers.
• Cut back on some things. Don’t be fooled by the jolt you get from caffeine or sugar. Your energy will wear off.
• Get moving. Getting physical activity not only helps relieve your tense muscles, but helps your mood, too, thanks to your brain chemicals called endorphins, which are released as you work out.
• Talk to your friends to help you work through your stress. Finding someone who will let you talk freely about your problems and feelings without judging you does a world of good. It also helps to hear a different point of view. Friends will remind you that you’re not alone.
• Get help from a professional if you need it. Talk to a therapist, who can help you work through stress and find better ways to deal with problems. There also are medications that can help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety and help promote sleep.
• Compromise. Sometimes, it’s not always worth the stress to argue. Give in once in awhile.
• Write down your thoughts. Have you ever typed an e-mail to a friend about your lousy day and felt better afterward? Why not grab a pen and paper and write down what’s going on in your life. Keeping a journal can be a great way to get things off your chest and work through issues. Later, you can go back and read through your journal and see how you’ve made progress.
• Help others. Helping someone else can help you. Help your neighbor, or volunteer in your community.
• Get a hobby you enjoy. Make sure to give yourself time to explore your interests.
• Set limits. When it comes to things like work and family, figure out what you can really do. There are only so many hours in the day. Set limits with yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.
• Plan your time. Think ahead about how you’re going to spend your time. Write a to-do list. Figure out what’s most important to do.
• Don’t deal with stress in unhealthy ways. This includes drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking, or overeating.
Don’t let stress make you sick. Sometimes, you may carry a higher burden of stress than you should, and often aren't even aware of it. 
