·NO, NO, NO. You know how to spell it, now learn how to say it when people try to guilt you into overloading yourself with personal or professional activities. Think of a way to decline tactfully, and put your health and well-being first.

·Stick to a hard and fast rule of having regular and consistent time off. Whether it’s an hour a day, an evening a week, or a day on the weekend, take that time to de-stress. Unplug the telephone, turn off your cell, fax, pager, computer, blackberry, everything that potentially allows others to interrupt your personal down time. The idea is to give yourself the gift of calm, relaxation, and restorative healing. Your nerves will reward you richly.

·Hang out with people who are calm and positive. We tend to absorb the emotions and attitudes of others we spend a great deal of time with. If you have a boss or co-workers who engage in negative behavior, it will have a bearing on you and create or increase your stress levels.

·Be your own biggest fan. Healthy self-esteem dictates that you take proper care of yourself, and disallow others to use you badly. This attitude is catching and others will get used to your acting from a place of self-respect. Once freed from the bonds of guilt and obligation, any overtime you put in, or help you give a co-worker will be because you’re happy to do so rather than feel that you have no choice in the matter. You will exude an air of confidence and be self-assured.  You'll have calm strength of control over your emotions and actions.

·Request help when necessary. It is very common for people to be overloaded with work yet reluctant to let their boss know that they need some assistance. The only way that management can know that you're buried is if you tell them, otherwise they will assume that you’re fine. There is no shame in asking for help or an extension on a project. You will seem and feel more in control by staying on top of the situation and alerting someone at the first sign of a problem that you are unable to resolve yourself.

·Stay close with those you love. Enjoy and take solace in the loving support of your family and friends. If married, make sure that you keep your matrimonial bond strong by letting your spouse in on what is happening with you. You don’t have to go through stressful times alone. It’s better to discuss it openly than to let work related stress invade your personal relationships.

·Take an extended leave, or look for employment elsewhere if the stress has reached the critical point. If you allow yourself to reach burnout level, your mind and body will start breaking down and causing a great deal of pain and other physical problems. If you do take a leave or find a new job, ensure that you’ve prepared yourself to make it a new start, rather than begin the stress cycle all over again. It is in your control to do so.

If you find yourself feeling a tremendous amount of stress at work, please do something about it right away. Consult a doctor, a councillor, any qualified medical practitioner. Try the above suggestions if you just can’t bring yourself to seek professional help, or use them in conjunction with treatment.

Your job is important, but not as important as your mental and physical health.