We provide this free health resource to visitors of the Community Room of SeniorSSuperStoreS in an effort to keep baby boomers, seniors and the elderly informed of matters that can affect their lifestyle.

Regardless of our age, whether we are still working or just playing every day, hanging around the house or fighting traffic, taking care of business or trying to keep up with the grandkids, just about everyone can use help with managing stress.

Here are some ideas that you might find helpful:

1. Distinguish between stress and pressure. Stress comes from the outside. It's what is imposed upon us by others, such as deadlines, bills and that jerk who cut you off in traffic.Pressure is what we tell ourselves, how we think about the stress.

2. You cannot completely reduce or eliminate stress in life. Stress is inevitable if you are alive - the goal is to manage it well.

3. Learn to say no. It's such a small but powerful word.Yet, we take on much more than we can reasonably handle when we don't say no.

4. Downsize. Stop trying to eat an entire pizza in one bite!In other words, break down large and stressful events or projects into manageable sizes.

5. Rest. Rest and rest some more.According to the Bible, even God rested one day out of seven.

6. Watch your language. Pay attention to the language you use when thinking about the stress in your life. This applies to how you talk to yourself about stress, such as "I'll never get all this done!" or how you define situations, such as "This is the worst thing that could possibly happen, and besides, it's not fair!"

7. Recognize your capacity. Guard how many things you will allow to pull on your time and on your mind. We have allowed so much stress, demands and have-tos into our lives that we fail to realize it's not normal or healthy.

8. Do what you do for fun. Make a list of all the things you like to do for fun. Then consider how many you have done lately.After you get over the shock, pick one and go do it.

9. Get organized. You will live longer and easier. If you say that you are too busy to get organized, then you are too busy! If you don't know how to organize, get help from someone who does.

10. Use these suggestions. Taking action, doing something about it, is one of the most powerful stress management tools available.