Take Time to Exhale

Is your job getting to you? Cut yourself some slack.

Finding ways to cut down on stress at work will not only make you a happier camper, it will make you a healthier one, too. Yes, it's easier said than done -- tell us about it -- but the stakes are going up. Researchers have found a strong link between chronic work stress and a nasty cluster of factors known as syndrome X (or metabolic syndrome). They increase your blood pressure, your belt size, and your odds of developing diabetes.

It's hardly shocking that constant tension at work can strain your nervous system or throw your hormonal balance out of whack; both contribute to syndrome X. Yet some of the antidotes to unceasing stress are close at hand and don't involve quitting your job or heading for Tahiti. Instead, focus on a few healthy basics. Try to eat simply but nutritiously: whole-grain breads, fresh fruits, grilled chicken -- you know, the good-for-you stuff that doesn't leave your insides squirming. Take a mini walk at lunch. Set a regular sleeping schedule -- there's nothing more stressful than having to deliver 110 percent when you're exhausted. Tune out the office gossip mill. Find a peaceful window and take 10 slow, deep breaths. There, that's better.

Reference
Chronic stress at work and the metabolic syndrome: prospective study. Chandola, T., Brunner, E., Marmot, M., BMJ 2006 Mar 4;332(7540):521-525.