2019-06-20T10:25:00
(BPT) – –
Feeling low energy? [Infographic]
Paying for college: 4 ways to help lower your education costs
2019-06-20T08:01:00
(BPT) – Total student loan debt has surpassed $1.5 trillion, with 4 in 10 students carrying over $30K in outstanding student loans. Getting accepted into college or graduate school is an exciting time for students and parents. As college continues to get more expensive, determining how you’ll fund your education is a big decision. Review these tips to help keep costs down as you navigate this exciting time in a student’s life.
Stay in state
Consider attending school near home. In-state tuition is much less expensive than attending school out of state. Plus, you’ll save on transportation — and even room and board if you live at home. Public universities are also generally more affordable than private universities.
Additionally, you might be able to save on tuition and related costs by taking classes at a local community college before school begins or during summer breaks. Be sure to confirm that the credits will transfer to the college or university of your choice prior to enrolling in these community classes.
Take advantage of financial aid
Some students and parents are able to finance college or graduate school with their savings, while others may qualify for federal student loans, grants, scholarships and work-study programs.
“A student loan is often the first loan product for a young borrower,” said Carrie Foran Sepulveda, manager of education lending at Navy Federal Credit Union. “It can have a significant impact on their post-school financial life, so it’s important to do your due diligence and explore all of your financial aid options.”
If your student aid award or the federal student loan amount granted to you doesn’t cover all your college expenses, private student loans can help fill the gap. For example, at Navy Federal Credit Union, members can apply for student loans with variable rates as low as 5.32% APR or fixed rates as low as 5.99% APR with automatic payments — both for 10-year terms, up to the school-certified cost of attendance.
“We give a 0.25% interest rate reduction by signing up for automatic payments,” added Foran Sepulveda. “This is a great way to establish good financial habits that will help you build your credit history while you’re in school.”
Whether you choose federal or private student loans, make sure you fully grasp the loan’s terms, conditions, and repayment requirements.
Gain college credits in high school
If your high school offers Advanced Placement (AP) programs, you may be able to receive college credits at no cost or test out of some requirements — saving money that would have been spent taking the class during college. Check with the school for their rules on granting AP credits.
Earn money while in school
Apply for on-campus jobs if you have work study granted to you by the school, or look for part-time jobs off-campus to earn extra cash. During school breaks, consider finding a job with full-time hours, but on a short-term basis, to make the most of your time off.
Whether you’re a student or a parent, paying for your education can be doable with these tips in mind.
What original Medicare covers – and doesn’t cover
2019-06-20T06:01:00
(BPT) – As you age, you gain wisdom — and a big part of that wisdom is realizing the importance of caring for your health. Taking care of yourself means getting regular checkups and screenings to help prevent issues from becoming serious — and to help you feel good while living your best, healthiest life every day.
If you’re approaching age 65, you’ll want to know what’s covered — and what’s not — before signing onto Medicare, which may provide most of your health insurance coverage. The good news is, a lot of basic preventive health screenings are actually covered in Medicare Part B. However, there are some important items that aren’t, so you may want to research alternate coverage to make sure you’ll be able to care for all aspects of your health at age 65 and beyond.
Here’s a rundown of some of the major preventive screenings covered by Medicare Part B, and a couple of important ones that are not covered.
Basic health screening.
When you first sign up for Medicare, you will have an overall health screening that includes vital indicators like height, weight, blood pressure, necessary shots and a simple vision test. Referrals will be made if you have any issues that require follow-up. Each year, a similar yearly wellness visit will cover those basics. Flu, hepatitis B and pneumococcal shots are covered.
Cardiovascular screening.
In order to detect conditions that could lead to a stroke or heart attack, covered screening includes blood tests for cholesterol, lipid and triglyceride levels. You’ll want to follow your health practitioner’s advice about the frequency of screenings and recommended preventive measures such as improving your diet and exercise routine.
Cancer screenings.
Also covered by Medicare are important screenings such as colonoscopy, mammogram and screenings for prostate, cervical and lung cancer. These are all screenings that should be conducted regularly to catch any early warning signs, as early treatment leads to the best health outcomes.
Dental checkups.
Routine dental care is not covered by Medicare. You may want to consider outside or supplemental coverage that will help you pay for regular cleanings, checkups, X-rays and any routine dental work such as fillings or filling replacements that you may need. Dental care can become very costly without any coverage.
Vision care.
Apart from the simple vision test during your initial medical checkup, vision checkups, contacts and eyeglasses are not covered by Medicare. One exception is that Medicare will cover a yearly glaucoma test if — and only if — you are at high risk for glaucoma. Risk factors for glaucoma include diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, if you are African American and 50 or older, or if you are Hispanic and 65 or older. Another exception is that some coverage is provided by Medicare if corrective lenses are needed following cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens.
Caring for your vision as you age is crucial, as vision exams can be important indicators of other health issues such as diabetes and hypertension, before you have any other signs or symptoms. And everyone should be regularly tested for glaucoma, even if they are not at high risk for glaucoma. Whether or not you rely on corrective lenses now, it’s a good idea to get supplemental vision coverage while you’re on Medicare. According to VSP, the leader in vision coverage, people will typically save more than $200 with an individual vision plan. VSP Individual Vision Plans cover eye exams, contacts and glasses, too. With the low-cost premiums and savings on glasses, you can get a stylish pair for every day of the week, and opt for lens enhancements like progressive (no-line multi-focal) and light-to-dark tinting. VSP has the largest network of independent eye doctors, so it’s likely you won’t have to change if you have one you trust. For more information, visit the VSP Direct Medicare website.
The time to plan for any supplemental insurance coverage you may need is well before you hit 65 and apply for Medicare. It’s best to think ahead, and make sure that your health is covered, from head to toe.
5 ways parents can help kids avoid the ‘summer slide’
2019-06-19T14:11:00
(BPT) – After many months of learning through the school year, kids are understandably ready for summer vacation. But hitting pause on academics can cause significant challenges when returning to school in the fall. Some children lose the equivalent of one month of learning over the summer and “slide” back in math, reading and other skills.
How can you help your children retain what they’ve learned or even increase their skills over the summer months? There are many ways to prevent learning loss that won’t disrupt those lazy days of summer. Fun for your kids and you, here are some strategies to keep learning going throughout summer vacation:
1. Use an effective online learning curriculum.
When information is presented in a highly engaging way, children want to learn. ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy is a comprehensive digital education resource for children ages 2–8 with a wealth of effective learning activities. Available on PC, tablet and smartphone, it helps build a foundation for academic success while still being extremely fun for kids.
The incredible variety of activities on ABCmouse, from animated videos to interactive games, makes children eager to discover new things to learn and do. Guided by a Step-by-Step Learning Path, they are rewarded as they progress and are motivated to continue. Kids can also take learning on-the-go and experience all the captivating content in ABCmouse wherever they may be, including puzzles, an expansive digital library and more.
Even a little engagement each day can make a difference over summer break. A recent study found that children who completed approximately 17 Learning Activities per week on ABCmouse — about 10 minutes per day — showed improvements in reading skills compared to those who didn’t use the program. With that extra learning lift, the children continued to display improvements in reading ability by winter of the next school year.
2. Keep reading — as a family.
Whether you read aloud to your children or they read on their own, reading every day — especially about topics your children love — can spark a love of learning.
Joel Kupperstein, Senior Vice President of Curriculum at Age of Learning, offers tips for encouraging children to read: “Having kids read every day for as little as 15–30 minutes, depending on their age, can make a big impact. And let them read whatever interests them, whether that be storybooks, graphic novels, news articles or magazines. The goal is to make reading something they want to do and not something they have to do.”
He also recommends choosing a time each day when adults read aloud to children — and older children can take turns reading aloud, too. “This is a great opportunity for kids to start experiencing longer, more sophisticated stories that they may not be able to read independently,” adds Kupperstein. “Books by great authors like Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, Kate DiCamillo and others are fantastic when read silently, but even better when read aloud!”
3. Make learning your travel companion.
In the car or in the sky, summer vacation and traveling go hand in hand. Road trips are perfect for young children to practice reading road signs or spelling things they see outside a car window. On a flight, kids can watch the progress of the plane flying over the map if their seat back has a TV screen. From state capitols to geography, talk about where you’re headed on vacation and what makes it special.
They can also find thousands of kid-friendly titles to practice reading comprehension on the go in digital libraries like ReadingIQ. If your children play video games on long road trips, Adventure Academy is a new educational multiplayer online game that strengthens skills in math, science, language arts and social studies. Wherever you go this summer, you can take learning with you!
4. Go outside and see what summer can teach your children.
Summer is the best time to discover the great outdoors with your young learner. Go on a nature walk and discover what plants and animals live in your neighborhood. Invite kids to draw pictures or write about what they find on a hike. Before heading to the beach, learn about sea animals at an aquarium or public library. Sweaty or sunburned? Talk about how bodies react to the summer heat after playing outside all day.
Keep your children engaged with questions about the world around them. If they ask a question you don’t know how to answer, that’s an opportunity to find the answer together. Not only do these discussions build literacy skills, but encouraging your children to seek the answers helps fuel their love of learning.
5. Find math in everyday activities.
To reinforce and build on your children’s math skills, remember that math is all around us. To avoid the summer slide, engage your children in using math for problem solving. Younger children can notice numbers on houses or learn to count quantities. Older children can add up prices and weigh fruit at the grocery store.
No matter your child’s age or grade level, you can encourage him or her to keep learning outside of school to prevent summer learning loss — and have fun while doing so!
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Having Fun in the Sun
2019-06-19T13:21:00
(BPT) – Spending time outside is what makes summer so enjoyable. Whether you plan to spend a day at the pool, mill about a music festival or relax at a family barbecue, everyone looks forward to a beautiful, sunny day.
Before you head out, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen! Leading dermatologists everywhere recommend that people of all skin types wear sunscreen as part of their plan to protect themselves from exposure to the sun’s UV radiation, which can lead to skin cancer, including melanoma. Unfortunately, it seems most Americans are not heeding this advice. According to a recent Harris Omnibus poll, only 19% of Americans wear sunscreen on a daily basis.
But the verdict among experts is loud and clear: wearing sunscreen is one of the most effective, accessible ways to combat the risk of skin cancer. And along with other sun safety measures — including seeking shade and covering up where possible — you can enjoy warm weather and protect your health at the same time. Now that you know why it’s important to protect yourself while enjoying fun in the sun, here are five common sun-protection missteps to be aware of before you head out.
Assuming all sunscreens are alike: Sunscreen isn’t one size fits all. Everyone needs a different sunscreen that’s tailored to their lifestyle and favorite activities, skin type and aesthetic preferences. Before you buy, read the label and factor your planned activities and likely time in the sun into your choice of sunscreen. One option that meets a wide range of outdoor needs is Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch SPF 100+ sunscreen. Its lightweight, non-greasy formula goes on easily, and the 100+ SPF ensures maximum broad spectrum protection from those sunburn-inducing UVB rays and harmful UVA rays.
Skipping sunscreen on cloudy days: Don’t be fooled! If you’re spending time outdoors, there’s no question about taking along your favorite sunscreen, even when the sun’s not shining brightly. If you’re prone to forgetting, try storing your sunscreen next to your tube of toothpaste. This small adjustment leads to a 20 percent increase in sunscreen use, according to a study published in 2017.
Missed spots: It happens to just about everyone from time to time. After a day of fun in the sun, that telltale redness on the shoulder or tricep reveals you missed a spot while applying sunscreen. Take care to apply and reapply sunscreen to all exposed areas. Enlist a friend’s help to ensure all the hard-to-reach areas get covered. Don’t ignore commonly forgotten areas like ears and the tops of feet. And if you’re using a spray sunscreen, always rub it into your skin after spraying!
Thinking you’re one-and-done: If you have plans to spend any length of time outdoors, that first application of sunscreen will not protect your skin for the entire day — even when using the highest SPF sunscreens. The best way to stay sun safe is to reapply according to the directions on the package. To keep you on track, set an alarm so you always remember when to apply a fresh layer.
Forgetting your hat: Equally as important as wearing sunscreen is seeking cover from the sun’s UV rays. To limit your skin’s direct exposure to the sun, accessorize with a brimmed hat and protect your eyes with sunglasses. Take advantage of opportunities to seek shade under a tree, umbrella or wherever it’s available. But remember, sunscreen isn’t optional in shade — studies have shown that beach umbrellas do not thoroughly block UV rays.
To learn more about the importance of having a full array of sunscreen options, visit ProtectMySunscreen.com. Find the perfect sunscreens for you and your family at Neutrogena.com/Sun.
5 signs you need to hire a landscape professional
2019-06-19T15:17:00
(BPT) – In this age of DIY, many outdoor home projects look doable. The truth is, plenty of outdoor projects tackled by homeowners to save money are better left to landscape professionals. When attempting these projects on their own, homeowners soon realize that some jobs require more knowledge and expertise than an online search engine can provide, and the project may end up costing more if doing it themselves.
Fortunately, trained, experienced and certified experts are available to help turn your vision into an enjoyable reality and bring years of knowledge and value to your outdoor project. Experts found through the National Association of Landscape Professionals, which represents an industry of nearly one million landscape, lawn care, irrigation and tree care professionals, have the expertise to create and maintain healthy green spaces that benefit our communities and environment.
How do you know if you need a professional? Here are five signs.
Your lawn looks unhealthy
You see brown grass, patchy growth and weeds. You’ve tried everything from various lawn products to altered watering techniques, but nothing works.
Lawn care professionals have the expertise and education to get to the root of your yard problems. A trained lawn care professional can evaluate factors including the pH balance of your soil, the presence of non-native grasses or problems created by over- or under-fertilizing your lawn.
These experts may have your soil analyzed and work alongside an agronomist to determine the best fertilizer application for your specific type of grass, and create a maintenance plan to achieve optimal lawn health.
You want a patio
You’ve dreamed of entertaining outdoors, viewing online pictures of patios, and think, “How hard can that be?”
Hardscaping — installing elements of landscape architecture, from pathways to retaining walls — requires a skilled hand, careful consideration of the best materials, plus knowledge of placement and installation.
A landscape professional will know what materials work best for your region and landscape design, and can assess your yard to consider issues that could impact your new feature. With a complex project, a landscape architect or designer can further assist you on planning and implementing your vision.
Your tree looks sick
If a tree in your yard has dead branches, bark splitting, fungus, defoliation or has had improper pruning, it’s time to call an arborist.
Consulting an arborist will help determine issues with your trees and the best course of action. Better yet, use an arborist to prevent problems with your healthy trees down the road. Arborists are trained and certified to ensure proper pruning and maintenance. They can recommend the best trees for your yard, where to plant them and how to get them off to a healthy start.
You want a new landscape
You love seeing colorful flowers and lush greenery at the local garden store, but don’t know where to start. What will work best with your existing trees and plants? Where should you plant? What will grow best with your climate and soil type?
You may be tempted to choose shrubs based only on their appearance, but improper choices could greatly impact your landscape design. A landscape professional is trained in proper plant selection and understands what flowers and greenery grow best in specific soil conditions, plus how to achieve a balance of colors and variety. They also know how to use plantings to camouflage unsightly areas of your landscape and add focal points to locations you wish to feature. When working with a landscape professional, they’ll help you consider layering plant sizes and textures to create a beautiful outdoor space.
You have big plans
You’ve invested time and energy into your yard, and you want to protect that investment. Perhaps you want an irrigation system or landscape lighting, water feature or another upgrade. A landscape professional can help bring your vision to life. They can assess the cost, timing and aesthetic considerations, and how it will impact your existing design.
Within the lawn and landscape industry, there are experts for any size project and need. To find a local professional to advise you on your outdoor space, visit loveyourlandscape.org/find-a-pro/.
How one idea – big or small – can help change cancer care
2019-06-19T10:01:00
(BPT) – Anyone who has confronted cancer or helped a friend or family member battle the disease knows that the challenges go far beyond diagnosis and treatment. Managing the cancer journey and life after treatment calls on support from family and the surrounding community. It is this community that may have the greatest potential to improve lives of people touched by cancer, by using their own experiences to inform solutions.
Consider the everyday challenge of getting to and from the many doctor appointments during cancer treatment, or keeping a child’s spirits up while he or she is sick. People affected by cancer — not just doctors or researchers, but those closest to the patient’s journey such as caregivers, first responders, dietitians, therapists, patients themselves and more — have ideas that can transform care in these small but important ways.
Now in its fourth year, the Astellas Oncology C3 (Changing Cancer Care) Prize is looking for ideas beyond medicine that can transform cancer care and solve everyday challenges that people touched by cancer face. Applications are open now until July 15, 2019.
This year, the C3 Prize will award up to $200,000 in total funds and resources to help winners bring their ideas to life.
Past winners used their own personal experiences to inform their ideas, which are helping people with cancer today.
Ebele Mbanugo of Lagos, Nigeria, 2018 Grand Prize Winner
After her mother and two aunts were diagnosed with cancer, Mbanugo was driven to create an organization that opened access and eliminated barriers to affordable breast cancer screenings. Winning the C3 Prize brought her one step closer to launching a program that fights the social stigma around breast cancer by creating a culturally relevant and easy-to-understand podcast series about breast cancer for patients.
Since winning the C3 Prize, Mbanugo has been piloting the audio series that reflects Nigerian patients and individuals in the community.
Hernani Oliveira, 2017 Grand Prize Winner
Oliveira is a cancer survivor who developed a two-part mobile app for kids with cancer and their parents. The app for kids helps them stay active and mobile during their treatments where they often are sedentary, while the app for parents helps them understand and explain complex cancer treatment procedures. Both platforms help solve issues related to medication adherence.
Since winning the C3 Prize, Oliveira has been focused on running trials on different prototypes of the app to improve the quality of the game and thereby reduce hospital admission times for patients.
Oliveira will also join this year’s panel of judges, alongside celebrity entrepreneur and cancer activist Bill Rancic, who learned firsthand the difficulties of navigating a cancer diagnosis after his wife, entertainment journalist Giuliana Rancic, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.
Calling for Entries
This year’s C3 Prize calls for ideas in three categories related to unmet needs: 1) Cancer Care Journey, to help improve the cancer patient experience, ease their decision-making and help navigate the treatment process; 2) Cancer Health Disparities, to help reduce the unequal burden of cancer care, especially in creating tools and resources to reach underserved populations in the U.S. and abroad; and 3) Cancer Survivorship, to help alleviate the challenges and concerns of cancer survivors as they continue their journey to wellness.
All applications, regardless of submission category, will be considered for the following awards: one Grand Prize of $100,000; two Innovation Prizes for $45,000 each and one Emerging Ideas Prize for $10,000. Judges will consider entries for the Emerging Ideas Prize if they have great potential impact for patients and caregivers but need further development before implementing. Finalists will be selected to compete in front of a panel of judges during a live pitch event in the fall.
Anyone is welcome to apply by July 15. Visit www.c3prize.com to learn more and submit your idea today.
How to choose a degree? 4 questions to ask
2019-06-19T10:01:00
(BPT) – Many college-bound students find that there’s one question commonly asked by family members, friends and even complete strangers: What degree are you pursuing? It’s a great conversation starter and gives students an opportunity to share their educational goals with others, but for some who are trying to select from a long list of degree choices for the first time, this seemingly harmless question can be daunting.
CMT artist and Arizona State University online student Ashley Wineland has some tips to share from her personal experience with selecting a college degree. Whether you’re looking to create a plan of action for picking the perfect major or just need some inspiration, Wineland shares four questions she asked herself along the way that helped her select the perfect degree for her professional goals.
1. Will you pursue an online degree?
“I knew I was going to be online bound as soon as I hit my senior year of high school,” Wineland said. “Usually, this is a pretty restrictive path for degree options as most colleges only have paths dedicated in things like business or art history. As someone who had already started building a career in entertainment as a singer/songwriter, I knew that those options weren’t going to make the final cut for me.”
2. What is your passion?
Wineland found that her heart and soul was in music entertainment, but a degree path with that primary focus was not available to her. “I had to think outside the box,” she said. “I asked myself important questions like, ‘What can you do that is still creative in nature, but can also aid other parts of your career?’”
3. How can your passion lead to a career?
As Wineland considered how to use the skills she learned to expand her career path and combine with her passion for entertainment, she found a creative, yet business and media focused degree called Film and Media Studies.
“I remember being so ecstatic when I found Film and Media Studies in the degree options,” Wineland said. The degree program has four major areas of emphasis: a screenwriting portion, which allowed Wineland to use her creative writing skills, and the other three areas which focused on the evolution of media, how it is used today and what impact it has on our society.
“I knew I was going to be able to use these skills to improve how I communicated with my fan base, produce visual content — the future of the entertainment industry — and form my business plans. It was an all-encompassing degree that was going to aid me in different facets of my career that I wasn’t already actively homing in on.”
4. Are you open to other possibilities?
With more degree options than ever before, there will likely be a few ‘new to you’ majors to consider. Keeping an open mind will help you open up possibilities and, like Wineland, find a perfect fit.
“Overall, I have found a love for my degree and have been able to begin implementing its lessons into my work life,” Wineland said.
A degree you may never have considered, or even known was available, can provide an exciting educational experience — and ASU Online is a great place to start. When choosing your degree, be open to possibilities and reflect on how you can creatively use the skill sets a degree path has to offer to pursue your best life.
Embrace the Summer Weather with Delicious, Kidney-Friendly Recipes
2019-06-19T07:01:00
(BPT) – Start the Day with: Avocado Toast with Egg
Start off your day by fixing a slice of Avocado Toast with Egg. This light, but filling breakfast is perfect for the busy mornings of summer.
To Drink: Strawberry-Lemonade Slush
Welcome the warm weather by making this ice-cold, kidney-friendly Strawberry-Lemonade Slush … because summer is here!
On the Side: Grilled Thyme Corn on the Cob
Summertime means it’s time to fire up the grill. Grilled Thyme Corn on the Cob is a great kidney-friendly side and a fun way to get the family outside while cooking! Helpful hint: Compared to most vegetables, corn is higher in phosphorus. A half ear portion is acceptable for most people on a low phosphorus kidney diet.
The Entrée: Cream Cheesy Burger
A great entrée that you can throw on the grill is Cream Cheesy Burgers. These kidney-friendly burgers go great with horseradish, oregano or Italian seasoning for additional, low-sodium flavor.
To Spice It Up: Mexican Seasoning
Turn up the flavor of the star dish at this summer’s dinner party with spicy Mexican Seasoning. With a mix of chili powder, paprika and ground cumin, this punch-packing seasoning is sure to be a hit!
For Dessert: Filipino Banana Rolls (Turon)
Enjoy a warm summer night with Filipino Banana Rolls (Turon). These fried treats are a street food favorite from the Philippines and are a sweet finish to a great day!
Feeling stressed at work? Try these 5 strategies
2019-06-19T00:01:00
(BPT) – Feeling stressed at work? If so, you’re not alone. A recent Gallup Poll revealed that 55% of Americans said they experienced stress “a lot” during the day, up from 46% in 2006.
In the workplace, stress can affect your attitude, relationships with your colleagues and your work performance. Although a modest amount of stress is normal, high levels of stress can be dangerous to your health and may contribute to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and depression.
Fortunately, there are ways to help manage stress. Ann Marie O’Brien, R.N., national director of health strategies, UnitedHealthcare, shares the following tips to consider that may reduce your workplace stress and get you back on a healthy track performing at your usual best.
1) Talk to your boss. Consider having an open discussion with your boss about the stressors associated with your work responsibilities. Ask if there is an opportunity for additional skills training, or possibly even restructure your job to make it more manageable and better aligned with your interests and skills. Also, check if your company has an employee assistance program (EAP), which may provide available counseling and online resources.
2) Brush up on your time-management skills. We’ve all had days when it seems impossible to get everything done. In some cases, poor time management is the reason we feel this way, which then may trigger stress. For your next work assignment, talk with your supervisor before getting started to plan realistic goals, priorities and deadlines.
3) Take advantage of workplace well-being programs. An increasing number of employers are offering well-being programs through their health plan and are making healthier food options available in the workplace. Some employers offer gym reimbursement programs such as UnitedHealthcare’s Gym Check-In, have onsite workout rooms, offer stand-up desks, and encourage walking meetings and well-being challenges like “taking the stairs.” Remember, it’s important for your physical and mental health to combine exercise with a well-balanced diet.
4) Grow your support network. If you have a close colleague at work, talk with that person and explain your work stressors and brainstorm possible solutions. If you don’t, then reach out to friends and loved ones. It’s important that you don’t isolate yourself after a stressful event.
5) Focus on yourself. If you’re feeling stress, a simple treat such as going to a movie, enjoying your favorite meal, or just getting away to take a brief walk can give you time to unwind and recharge. If you cannot get a handle on your stress, talk to your doctor. He or she may recommend a counselor who could help you find other ways to help reduce or manage the unhealthy stress in your life.
