Once you identify the changes that induce stress for you, you can make decisions to limit the number of changes you allow in your life. Of course, you cannot simply quit your job, postpone your move, or permanently avoid everything in your life that has a high stress potential. But you can have some control over how many of these events happen at any one time. You can learn to prioritize for the sake of your sanity. Get used to asking yourself questions about your immediate and distant future: What can I rearrange? What is not a priority? What can I say "no" to? What is really important to me this weekend?

That doesn’t have to mean twisting your knees and ankles at obscure angles and humming to yourself. You can use meditation time to listen to music, lie flat on the floor and stare at the ceiling, do a stretching routine, sit on a park bench, or take in an ocean view; whatever helps you to go to “another place” or simply think of nothing at all. Just 10-20 minutes of quiet reflection may bring relief from chronic stress as well as increase your tolerance to it.

If you think about it, the word "recreation" says a lot. When you garden or fish or walk or paint for recreation you are, in a sense, re-creating yourself by renewing your body and mind.

Setting aside part of the day or week for recreation is a great way to reduce stress. Try taking up a new activity or hobby; it will give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Next time you’re bogged down by worries, do something you enjoy for a while. Whether it's gardening, reading, painting, or Irish dancing – whatever makes you happy – make time to indulge your interest.