The World Health Organisation calls job stress a "worldwide epidemic". In fact, it is no secret that today's working women are finding it harder to touch base with themselves and their families. Many of us resort to the common strategy of compromising to a lower set of expectations. For example we cut down on rest in our attempt to accomplish "everything" we set out to do. Or we dedicate less time to our personal enjoyment. The result is a stress-ridden lifestyle, which inevitably affects the family, work and even marriage.

Stress has a powerful impact on us, and we do need a certain degree of stress in our lives. Stressful situations often spur us into action, challenge our perception of what we are capable of, and help us reach new levels of performance we did not think was possible. The key however is learning how to manage the stress in our lives and striking a balance between work and family life.

Let's think about some of the important things in life that should get a percentage of your time... health, family, friends, work, rest, relaxation, entertainment, good nutrition, exercise, and goals. Giving 95% of your time to work, and only giving 5% of your time for everything else, is not a healthy balance for you or your family. Why not spend a moment right now to determine how balanced your time is. Take an honest evaluation of yourself. Then prioritise. Here are some helpful suggestions to help you get the ball rolling.

1. Delegate or share your workload whenever it is possible. Do not assume that you are the only person who can do the job right. If you do, your coworkers and boss might begin to buy into that concept as well, which will only aggravate your workload and stress level.

2. Boredom is a major source of job stress and should be taken seriously. If you do not have an upwardly mobile career path that challenges you to grow professionally, and you end up feeling exhausted at the end of the day, it is time to expand your horizons and look for a better job.

3. Do not personalise any criticism you might receive. Look at negative comments as constructive criticism that allows you to improve your work. If however, the criticism is verbally abusive (e.g. your boss yells at you or uses vulgar language) then seek the advice of your manager or the human resources department. Criticism of this level should not be acceptable.

1. Sleep is essential for the body to rejuvenate and replenish itself. Make sure you get enough sleep every night. If you can, allow yourself a short nap in the afternoon. It will leave you feeling refreshed and focused.

2. Meditation quiets the mind, relaxes the muscles and energises the body. You will be surprised how energised you feel after a few moments in quiet meditation. Try starting your day with meditation to feel calmer and more centered.

3. Exercise provides you with natural energy and releases pent-up tensions that often go unnoticed. Swimming is perhaps the best relaxant. Go to a public pool in your estate for a quick dip twice a week after work. The side benefit is you start to look great too. This takes a bit of discipline, but the tradeoffs are worth it!

4. Take a break when you find you are beginning to frown unintentionally or are completely exhausted at the end of the day, it is a good idea. Go out of town for the weekend, alone, with your husband or with the whole family - it doesn't really matter as long as you give yourself some time and space to rejuvenate. There are a host of excellent weekend trips to choose from. Pamper yourself at a Resort and you will be surprised what a difference that can make.

5. As the saying goes, "You are what you eat". Avoid foods that are high in fat. Keep a bottle of water within easy reach at the office. Eat some fruit to perk you up. And remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with an occasional bar of chocolate.

6. And finally, don't forget about setting goals for yourself, with time specifically set aside to achieve them. Remember, you only have one life, so live it to the fullest! Good luck.