We all know about the more common symptoms of stress. Feeling frazzled and overwhelmed can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Whether going for a routine health checkup or a visit to the dentist, going to the doctor is near the bottom of many people’s list of desired activities. Nurses pass along these tips for feeling less on edge:

If you already have a good amount of alone time, or if you’ve changed and simplified your life enough to reduce the chaos and pressure in your life, you may be getting all the alone time you need.

I will start this post with a question, the same question my Mother would always asks me, “Will your worrying help anything?”

I can’t remember a time that I was not in love with music. I think that music can be therapy for what ails you. Music will pump me up when I need a little energy to get those toilets cleaned or the floors scrubbed. Music makes exercising more fun and motivates me–I usually sing and dance my way through all my daily chores.