Is it just me, or do you second guess every dollar you spend now that we're in a recession? I went grocery shopping yesterday and was horrified by a lot of the prices. The $3.96 bottle of 100% orange juice really had me questioning its necessity. (I finally decided to buy it, pour it into a pitcher, and add water to make it stretch further. That has an added bonus of reducing the sugar content of each serving as well!)

The high costs of goods, job insecurity, lack of raises and cuts in benefits that come along with a recession can really take a toll on you. And a high stress level can sometimes lead to unhealthy habits -- like emotional eating, smoking, drinking and becoming more sedentary.

But if you're feeling stressed, now is the time to really focus on healthy habits. Good nutrition isn't just for maintaining a healthy weight; when you select the proper foods you'll feel a boost in your energy and your mood. Exercise is also more important when you're stressed; it provides an energy boost, plus exercise can trigger the release of endorphins -- and who couldn't use a little dose of feel-good hormones?

Healthy eating and fitness can both fit in a recession budget, too. Bethany has budget-friendly nutrition tips and Bev shares ways you can get fit for zip. What are your tricks for staying healthy and reducing stress during the recession?

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Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the holiday season is in full swing. All the hustle and bustle of the season can start to feel quite stressful. To help keep your stress level in check, try dedicating some time each day to meditate. There's no need to say "oohhmm" and sit in the lotus position. You can lower your stress level with a few easy steps:

• Quiet place. Find a spot in your home or outside that's quiet and removed from other distractions.
  
• Music. Play some quiet, mellow music that helps you relax.
• Deep, full breathing. Breathe deeply and concentrate on your breathing.
• Focus. Your mind may wander, but as it does just refocus on your breathing -- this isn't a time to sort through your thoughts, this is a time to recenter yourself and clear your mind of the daily stressors.

Take 10 minutes each day to meditate and you'll see your stress levels reduce. Remember, exercising, eating healthfully, and getting proper amounts of sleep will also help you manage stress.

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Stress can certainly take a toll on our health; Jennie Garth is no exception. The actress is back on 90210, showing us what her popular character, Kelly Taylor, is like as an adult. But earlier in the year things weren't exactly sunny in Garth's life.

Within a span of six months, her daughter became ill (and was later diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis) and her father passed away. Garth said "I didn't think about my looks or my weight or my body or anything." She goes on to say that she didn't exercise, eat healthfully, and that she gained weight and inches as a result.

As much as we all hope our lives stay stable and uncomplicated, everyone is bound to hit a rough patch now and then. And, unfortunately, many of us will encounter periods of extreme stress, like Jennie Garth did. It's definitely hard to continue focusing on your health when everything else seems to be falling apart. But that is the most important time to take care of yourself.

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You exercise, you eat right, you get a good night's sleep, and you try to stay organized; you're doing everything you can to manage your own stress. But what if you work with someone who isn't managing stress well?

Regardless of where you might work, there are a lot of reasons for stress in today's workplace -- threats of layoff, increased workload due to reduced staffing, and so on. When you add in all the non-work-related causes of stress, it's no wonder some people aren't managing the pressure well. And, no matter how well you handle stress, when a co-worker is stressing you'll be affected by it.

So what can you do to help a stressed out co-worker? As long as you don't take on the reasons for their stress (e.g. taking their workload), it's a good thing to help out. And, if you happen to be the boss, it's imperative that you do so in order to maintain a positive workplace and to prevent productivity from slipping. Some ideas:

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I adopted my son from the US foster care system when he was 10-years-old. He has ADHD and often struggles with focus. He also has high anxiety and can get quite nervous in certain situations. One tool that helps him regain focus and composure is taking a few deep breaths. We face each other, look directly in each others' eyes and take a deep breath in... and out. He usually says "one more, Mom" and we continue until he's feeling in control again. The simple act helps to ground him, reduce his anxiety, and help him focus again. Breathing exercises can help everyone reduce stress and relax.

When you're faced with an abrupt, unexpected stressful situation (such as a car cutting you off in traffic or someone saying something offensive to you) take a moment to pause and breathe deeply before reacting. Those few seconds will calm you so you can respond appropriately and thoughtfully -- avoiding a hasty reaction you might regret later.

When you're faced with longer-lasting stress (such as a difficult deadline at work or ongoing problems with your significant other) make a regular practice of this breathing and stretching technique. It will imbibe your body with oxygen and help relieve stress.

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