Stress isn’t going away. Here are 10 things you can do to lighten the stress load on your mind and body.

1. Sleep, sleep, sleep. If you’re stressed out and short on sleep, you’re a menace to yourself and those around you. Also important, try to maintain a predictable sleep schedule.

2. Volunteer. Finding meaningful volunteer work helps get you out of your own head and provides feelings of accomplishment.

3. Play a friendly poker game or something. Pick a positive, healthy diversion, one that calms you or makes you happy.

4. Breathe/meditate. Slow, deep breathing can help bring on the relaxation response. Meditation helps calm the mind, too. Together they can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline levels, even skin temperature.

5. Exercise. This sounds likes the opposite of No. 4, but aerobic exercise, strength training and flexibility exercise (such as yoga) let off steam and give you a healthy body better able to handle stress.

6. Talk nice to yourself. Give yourself credit for the things you’ve accomplished. It’s up to you to pump up your ego, which will make you less anxious and more confident.

7. Pretend. If things seem to be crashing down, act as though they’re not. Do this repeatedly to help change your perspective on life’s troubles.

8. Always ask, “What’s the worst that can happen?” If the answer isn’t death, permanent injury or terminal illness, figure you can get through it. Psychologists tell patients not to “catastrophize” life’s normal downers.

9. Unclutter. Organize some part of your physical space, such as your desk, closet or garage. Seeing clutter can make you feel unsettled.

10. Ingest well. Switch from caffeinated drinks and sugar-filled treats to water and healthier snacks. Quit smoking if you haven’t already. You don’t need any chemical, self-induced hype.

Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Stress stoppers and substitutes

Stress is sending you signals. Are you paying attention? Stress experts say you should ask these questions:

1. Are you in pain? Headache and back pain are often stress symptoms. Take stock of muscle stiffness in the neck and jaw. Do you have to consciously drop your jaw to relax it?

2. How does your skin look? Stress has real physical effects, including skin eruptions.

3. Are you snapping at everyone? Stress makes you irritable.

4. Have your eating habits changed? Some people eat more when they are stressed. Some eat less.

5. How’s your digestion? Stress can wreak havoc on your food processing system. Are you having more heartburn, bowel problems, stomachache? Stress can aggravate ulcers.

6. Does your mind race? The inability to focus can be a stress sign. So is indecisiveness. Or are you fixated on one thing? Some stressed people can’t move off dead center.

7. Are you finding that things aren’t funny? Losing the ability to laugh is one of the first casualties of stress.

8. Are you tossing and turning at night?

9. Are you over-consuming? Some people numb themselves with high-fat food, alcohol, a buying binge. Take a look at excessive behaviors.

10. Have you picked up new nervous habits, or have old ones intensified? Notice your cuticle picking, nail biting, hair twisting, finger rapping, etc.