4.Communicating cleanly and assertively is a great way to reduce stress by addressing boundaries, expectations and needs in workplace. Women, many times, communicate on an emotional level. Unfortunately, with this sort of communication, real message is lost in feeling versus doing.

5.Caffeine, by its very nature, causes a physiological stress response. How much coffee or high caffeine soft drinks do you consume at work? Take steps to reduce or cut out caffeine all together. Increase your water intake.

6.Eat a good breakfast. Studies show that eating breakfast is one of healthiest habits we can adopt. Our bodies and brain has been without carbohydrate fuel for 12 hours or more. Time to fill up. Smoothies are great ways to get a great boost on go. Yogurt, fruit, juice and a blender and you can start your day with protein, good carbohydrate, calcium and vitamins. Add some linseeds/flaxseeds and you have fiber and phytoestrogens too. All are significant for women’s good health!

7.Ideas you might like to try at work place for stress reduction. Calming oils of floral scents (rose, vanilla, lavender and nutmeg), a tennis ball to roll back and forth under ball of your foot, and massage an acupressure calm point in area of hand between index finger and thumb.

8.Self-care outside workplace is of paramount importance for women. Adequate sleep provides our bodies with chemical balancing and healing at a cellular level. Find out what needs to “give” to get you to bed for 7-8 hrs of sleep. Eating a diet of real food (limit or eliminate additives and chemicals) that fuels our bodies gives us a reserve to run on during stressful time. Exercise, though hard to timetable in our packed schedules is a great stress reducer.

9.Learn ways to relax that are meaningful for you. This might seem like an obvious, overused, token suggestion. Most women do not really know how to relax. We have been so programmed to look after everything and everyone else. This feeling of responsibility carries over into our work as well. Learning what is relaxing to you is worth effort. Turn off T.V. Call a friend. Listen to some relaxing music. Commit to picking up an interest from past, even if you do it in small steps. Time taken for pleasure will pay off in long run in work efficiency. 10.Do not stress about reducing stress and make it “another stress”. Pay attention to you body’s response to situations. What is your self talk? Make an effort to take deep breaths and change on-going negative talk to positive.

Workplace stress through our legislations is becoming an issue for which employers must take notice. However, current lean operations of business, which is one of contextual issues cited for today’s stress, will not go away. For those of us who run our own businesses, we are our own employers. As women, we need to discern what is work stress. As women, we need to acknowledge what we can do for ourselves to reduce stress. We need to remember that old saying, if you don’t look after yourself, no one else will. Honour your self!

For breakfast, I keep all in one nutritional drinks close at hand. When I have no time to spare, I can quickly drink one of these on road and have my nutritional needs met without time! Plus, they taste good too. :) Yum! (These average $1 a can)

For lunches, you can use tortillas and add peanut butter and jelly to them. Then roll them up and cut them in half for a healthy snack.

I also store frozen goods in freezer at work. This saves me money and I am quickly able to zap fish, chicken, or vegetables in microwave for a healthy and inexpensive meal. This method also keeps food longer so you won't have to always remember to pack a meal. Another suggestion is to store frozen juice at work and make it before lunch in your own container (providing there is room in company refrigerator). This is a healthy and inexpensive alternative to pop.

Whatever you do, make sure you are hydrated and well-fed. Your health depends on it!