Friday, Saturday and Sunday are everyone's favorite days of the week. You finish work for the week, and the kids are out of school. The weekend schedules are usually less hectic and more flexible, and you can break out all of your most comfortable clothes. What's not to love? But even though it's the weekend, there are still places to go, people to see and things to get done. If you're like me, those people, places and things often get pushed off until the last minute or aren't tended to at all! Fortunately, just the slightest bit of organization and planning can make your weekend even more relaxing.

Say you've promised to have dinner with the in-laws and take your son to play at his best friend's house sometime over the weekend. Not knowing when you'll be doing those things can add stress to your weekend, and it's simple to get around. Call the in-laws during the week and nail down a night and time for dinner. Call the mother of your son's friend and decide when and where the play date will be. Then record your scheduled to-dos for the weekend in a calendar or planner for easy access.

Other weekend tasks may not be so set in stone, but you know they still need to get done - and you'll feel bad on Monday if they haven't. Sit down on Saturday morning and make a list of what you need to do, things like running the laundry, changing the sheets and grocery shopping. Start marking your list first thing on Saturday and get it done as soon as possible. Once your to-do list is all done, you're free to be as lazy as you want. And who doesn't like that?

In last week's blog entry, we discussed some of the ways you can cope with
stress. But what if you could prevent stress from happening in the first place?
Wouldn't it be nice to live a stress-free life? While that might not be entirely
possible, there are steps you can take to prevent most of the stress in your
life. In this week's blog, we'll discuss some of the best ways to prevent
stress.

One of the best ways to prevent stress is to take control of your life. How
is that possible? First, you need to buy a planner. If you
already have a planner, use it! So many people carry planners around and write
down appointments, but what about the rest of your life? It may sound time
consuming, but making a daily schedule can prevent much of the stress you're
experiencing. Just think about all the times you thought you could remember
everything you needed to do that day and then you remembered a forgotten task.
It's enough to make anyone's day stressful. A planner not only helps you
remember, but it ensures everything gets done in a timely manner.

Another way to ensure stress stays at bay is to say no. No is a powerful word
that gives you control over your life. The next time someone asks you to do
something last minute, politely turn them down. Explain to them that you've made
previous commitments and aren't available. Tell them that if they give you
enough notice, you'd be happy to help out in the future.

Last, but not least, remember the importance of me time. We spoke about it
last week, but it really is worth mentioning a second time. When you write out
your schedule, make sure there is time for your favorite activity. Your body and
mind will thank you.

I hope these tips help you cut at least some of the stress out of your life.
You can't escape stress all together, but it doesn't have to rule your life.

As I discussed last week, the physical and mental experience of stress can actually be used to your advantage. Although stress is blamed for a surprising range of personal problems today, it can be used to restructure different aspects of your life to actually prevent stress in the future. You may be thinking, how on earth is that possible?

Like fear and pain, stress is your body or mind's way of telling you that something is wrong. When you're afraid, you usually know what you're afraid of. When you're in pain, you usually know what's hurting you. But when people are stressed out, they usually treat the symptoms (headaches, tight muscles, anxiety), assuming there's nothing they can do about the source of stress.And, of course, the source of some stress can't be mitigated. Instead of treating only the symptoms, try starting at the source. It's easier than you think.

For instance, many people experience significant stress associated with their jobs - be it difficult bosses, snarky co-workers or the potential for job loss. But when you come home after work feeling so wound up that you can't think straight, try writing down exactly what it is at work that stresses you out. You may feel that your boss isn't happy with your job performance. In that situation, what can you control? If you're concerned about your boss, go directly to him or her. Ask if there's any additional work you can take on or anything they see that you can do to improve your job performance. It makes you look responsible and concerned, and it may make your boss reevaluate the way he or she views you as an employee.

Fortunately, we're not helpless victims of our problems. Take control of the issues your body and mind are making you aware of through stress. You'll feel more in control and experience less stress, regardless of the outcome.

It doesn't matter how healthy you try to be, stress can always undo all your hard work. Who hasn't experienced coming home after a long day and skipping dinner because you're too tired and stressed to eat? Or, even worse, a bag of chips and a candy bar are washed down with a large bottle of soda. Stress can ruin a healthy lifestyle. Learning to cope with stress should definitely be a healthy lifestyle change you make in the New Year. In this week's blog, we'll begin to discuss some of the ways you can handle stress so that it doesn't ruin your healthy lifestyle.

Many people find that working out helps relieve stress. This is a wonderful way to reduce stress levels, because exercise is healthy. It isn't for everyone though. Some of us are simply too wiped out by stress to be able to exercise. When I get stressed out, I turn to relaxing activities. First of all, I brew myself a cup of tea. It doesn't matter if it's the middle of summer; a cup of hot tea always relaxes me. Best of all, I add a bit of Splenda to make it seem like a treat. Then, I turn on some music or get out a book to read. In other words, I take a bit of me time. Taking time for yourself allows you to escape, if only for a few moments.

A few other activities that seem to reduce stress levels include cooking, baking, gardening and crafts. The key is to choose something that you love doing but never have time for. Heck, sometimes all it takes is skipping that quick shower and enjoying a long, hot bath.

What are you waiting for? Break out the casserole dish, book, gardening tools or whatever makes you happy and say goodbye to stress. Also, don't forget to keep tuning in for more ways to cope with stress.

When you're sick, you're stressed. Colds, coughs and the flu can make it hard just to get out of bed and even harder to meet the challenges of a new day. Once a new illness takes hold, it can take days to recover fully and even longer to catch up on your to-do list. You can save yourself a lot of stress - and misery - by doing what you can to prevent getting sick, before it happens.

Schedule Your Sleep
If you're overly tired, you're more susceptible to any illness that's going around. Be sure you're getting enough sleep, even if it means scheduling it as part of your busy evening. Your body will thank you. Set your alarm clock, get into your coziest pajamas and catch some much needed sleep.

Don't Forget Your Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known to boost immunity. Whether you grab a bottle of orange juice on your way to work, or munch on tangy Vitamin C chewable tablets, be sure to boost your immunity before you get sick.

Ready, Set, Sanitize
Hand sanitizer isn't just for the paranoid. Direct contact with people who are sick or things that they have contaminated through touching, coughing or sneezing are ways people are exposed to illness-causing organisms. Sanitizing wipes are great for things like phones and heavy traffic copiers, and sanitizing your own hands regularly can help kill germs that you've picked up before they can reach your nose or mouth.

When it comes to staying healthy this winter a little preparation can prevent a lot of sickness and stress. So, follow these common sense tips and help yourself stay healthy all winter long.

When your world seems a little too crazy, it's best to focus on the things you can control and try to let go of the rest. One huge thing that we can do to prevent a lot of our stress is to be as prepared as possible for any foreseeable problems. Oddly enough, most people don't prepare for possible downfalls and suffer tons of stress when something goes wrong as a result. Maybe it's because we don't like facing the uncertain. Or maybe it's because we're just too busy dealing with today. Whatever the reason, being prepared can reduce your stress and keep your family safe if anything should go wrong.

It's easy to feel completely powerless in everyday life. It feels like we don't control anything. Will we be employed next week? Will our stock-based investments ever go back up? What if our bank goes bankrupt? As individuals, our lack of control over all of this is frightening. But instead of focusing on what you can't control, ask yourself how you can be prepared to deal with those problems. Even if your job currently feels secure, update your resume and make sure at least one suit is at the ready for a job interview. Consult a financial adviser on the relative stability of your investments. It might be time to move them to a low-risk environment. If your savings is lacking, make a solid commitment to start adding to it with each paycheck. If things go wrong, you can start acting to fix them immediately. Not only will your big problems seem more manageable, but you'll have the added comfort of knowing you did everything you could to be prepared.

When a person doesn't get enough rest, their body isn't the only thing that's affected. Exhaustion affects you mentally, physically and emotionally. Not getting enough sleep influences your ability to make good decisions, react well to friends and family and perform well at work. It's harder to do anything well when you're tired. Here are three great tips for making sure you find enough time for rest in your busy schedule.

Schedule Your Sleep
Just like a business meeting, play dates or family dinners, try scheduling your sleep time. Taking care of yourself and your health is worth it! Every individual is different, and you probably know how much sleep you need to be at your best. Schedule a bedtime and set your alarm for a time that will allow you plenty of morning time to prepare for your day.

Create A Bedtime Routine
If you're like me, you can't go straight from cleaning the house to hitting the hay. Giving yourself time to wind down can help you fall asleep faster and have a more restful night's sleep. At least a half an hour before bedtime, start getting ready by changing into some cozy pajamas, slipping on a soft pair of slippers and grabbing a cup of hot cocoa.

Watch What You Eat
Before bedtime, at least! Although it sounds like common sense, it can be easy to slip up. For instance, I love sipping a can of soda while I watch a movie before bed, but caffeine and sugar can make it harder to rest soundly. You also might want to avoid drinking a lot of anything right before going to sleep to avoid sleep-disturbing bathroom breaks.

When you put yourself first and stay well rested, it's easier to handle whatever stress may come your way. With a little bit of planning and the right priorities, you can be in optimum shape every day.

Thanksgiving just kicked off the five weeks of absolute holiday craziness. People often get very stressed out very quickly during this time, with regular stress compounded with biting cold weather and the chaos of the holidays. In my experience, there's one quick-fix stress reducer that works better than all the rest: massage. Not only is massage in itself relaxing - it's hard to even think about anything stressful while you're getting one. Unfortunately, in the current economy, luxuries like professional massage have been cut out of most personal budgets.

Believe it or not, you CAN enjoy all the benefits of massage without breaking the bank. If you think that the only way you can enjoy a massage is by paying someone $100 an hour to do it, then think again. If you have a significant other that likes to give or receive massages, you've already got it made. Set a date (or dates) to give each other long, soothing massages. You may want to set them up for different days - you get a massage one weekend, he gets one the next. The reason? You can relax and enjoy your massage, and he can enjoy his, without having to immediately turn around and give one. When it's time for your massage, pick out an aromatic massage oil or lotion, slip on some cozy slippers and a robe, and enjoy!

If you don't have a significant other, or don't think he or she would enjoy the idea, you have plenty of other options. Electric body massagers aren't what they used to be. Today, professional ones like percussion massagers can pound out the stress nearly as well as a masseuse. New businesses are also opening (such as the chain "Massage Envy") that offer professional massages at low rates, which are more affordable. If you don't want to splurge for even an inexpensive massage, you can drop the hint one would make a great Christmas gift. So, enjoy the soothing experience of massage without the heavy price tag and actually enjoy this holiday season!

If you're reading this, your life is probably pretty hectic. That out-of-control, stressed-out feeling that comes from doing too much? It's no fun. But what do you do with it? You want to scream, throw something or play bumper cars with the super-slow driver that's making you late to work. And while screaming is sometimes okay, the other two could land you in a bit of trouble. So, how do you find a healthy outlet to vent that steam?

Exercise can work wonders when you're all wound up, and it can keep your body in better shape to deal with stress too. If you're not one who likes to get out and move, you're probably sighing or rolling your eyes. And I can't blame you. Squeezing exercise into an already-packed day can seem impossible, especially when you're already exhausted. But exercise can actually increase the amount of energy you have by making your body work more efficiently. Here are three ways to fit exercise into an already busy day.

Walk It Off - Everyone can walk, whether it's around the neighborhood or around town during your lunch break. Plus, it's free. The only things you need are a great pair of walking shoes, a water bottle and a few minutes. Even if you can only walk for five, ten or fifteen minutes, the important thing is that you get moving. It's a great habit to start.

Choose To Move - Okay. Forget the escalator, elevator and people movers at the airport. Not only do they ensure that you stay less active - a lot of the time, they're actually slower than walking the distance yourself. So, give it a try. One important note: if you work on the 21st floor, you might want to take the elevator to 18, and walk the remaining three staircases.

Pick A Speedy Gym Routine - Many gyms are popping up all over the nation that cater to men and women who have very little time for exercise. Curves, for instance, allows you to follow a predetermined exercise circuit and get in and out in a matter of minutes.