Stress can cause all types of physical and emotional problems but dealing with stress in a positive way is how to over-come it's damaging affects.

It's not so much the stress but how we deal with stress that will determine our ultimate contentment and happiness. Many people tend to gain weight or get depressed when dealing with stress in the wrong ways.

Don't be naive, you should always expect problems because that is a simple fact of life. Once you accepted the fact that many problems will come your way, you can strategize ways to deal with the problems. Below are a few simple tips to dealing with stress:

• Avoid cramming too many activities into your day.

This may sound simple but it's a really difficult problem for most stay-at-home moms and corporate executives. The more urgent activities you cram in a day, the more stress you place on yourself.

• Avoid people who make you feel bad

One of the biggest culprit of stress is unsafe people. Unsafe people are those who put you down or talk about themselves all the time. If possible, eliminate these type of people from your life. It's not always possible to avoid unsafe people because you may have to work with them but when it's in your power, find new friends and associates and remove people who cause too much stress.

• Always have a budget when dealing with finance

Another source of stress is finance. Most people tend to spend too much money on things they don't need. Using credit cards further aggravates the problem. Make a reasonable budget based on "real needs" and stick to your plan. Using cash instead of credit cards alone will relieve stress.

• Avoid junk food and stay on a good diet

It's amazing how better your feel after a good walk. Eating good and losing weight also makes you feel better about yourself which relieves stress. Create a good diet program and plan 30 minute walks each day.

• Find a good support system

Dealing with people who share the same struggles that you haves makes life a little easier.