DON'T GET STRESSED

***FOUR THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FINANCIAL STRESS***

All across the country, people are stressed out over finances. Whether you just graduated and you're looking for your first job, or you've been watching your portfolio shrink, times are tough. So here are four things you should know about financial stress . . .

#1.) THIS TOO WILL PASS. It's the same thing your mom told you when you flunked your first driver's test . . . and it was true. The stakes are just a LITTLE higher now. Remember, if you keep your chin up and continue trying, things almost always get better eventually.

#2.) YOU CAN WORK IT OFF. Dust off your running shoes, or sign up for a yoga class. Physical activity is one of the healthiest ways you can relieve stress. If you aren't able to get to the gym, then try this exercise at home or in the car.

First start HUMMING for 15 seconds . . . then, COUNT for 15 seconds, and alternate the two several times. The exercise is designed to synchronize the two hemispheres of your brain and calm you down.

#3.) IT'S OKAY TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE NEWS. There's no need to watch the Dow every minute of every day. You'll just get even more stressed out. So turn off the TV and recognize that headlines are just fragments of the bigger picture.

#4.) YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE FUN. When you're worried about money, it's hard to relax. So make sure you spend time doing things you like. Inexpensive options are obviously best, so break out a board game, host a pot-luck, or romp in the sandbox with your toddler.

Having fun with other people will remind you that, in the end, relationships are far more important than money.(Kiplinger's Personal Finance)