1 Discover the source of your stress. Does the stress stem from something that you can control or something that will require additional stress management techniques? Look at job-related stressors and social stressors. Scrutinize all possible contributors to your stress so that you can develop a proper plan of action.

2 Ask others for help. Prevent stress related to the lack of communication by clarifying rules and guidelines. Talk with your superior and ask for explanation where and when necessary.

3 Review the goals and demands related to your job. Examine the responsibilities related to your job and break them down into simple tasks. Refrain from allowing negativity to seep into your everyday tasks.

4 Set boundaries with co-workers for them to respect your privacy. Organize your workspace to achieve maximum privacy and productivity. Turn your chair away from your cubicle opening or keep your office door shut.

5 Take frequent, short breaks throughout the day. Get up and leave your desk. Take a walk outside. On really bad days, take a long lunch. If you can’t leave your desk, try to close your eyes and take some deep breaths.

6 Watch your attitude. It is so easy to become negative when everyone else at work is that way. Persistently thinking about how much stress you have can draw more stress into your life. Try to put a positive spin on your situation. If you expect your work situation to get better, it just might happen.

7 Find ways to unwind. If you believe in God, pray often. Participate in a regular exercise program. Learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. Develop a support network. Seek out someone you can trust, such as a spouse or friend, and ask for support handling job stress. Balance your work life with fun and enjoyable activities outside of work

When you are facing a stressful situation to ask yourself: “What is the worst thing that could happen?” Accept that and begin to move forward from there. So much time and energy is wasted at work stewing over things you can do nothing about or things that will never happen. Learn to turn your stress into positive energy. You can give your best to your company but you must make taking care of yourself a priority. If you do that, your stress level will go down.

1. Be careful when handling and preparing food. Cross contamination of food is a major source of food-related illness. Cut on clean surfaces, and bleach cutting surfaces regularly. Consider a food safety course that teaches healthy food handling techniques.

2. Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. Recognize that what you’re eating may be contributing to the problem. Research indicates that poor nutrition can actually increase your chances for viral infections. A well-balanced diet with healthy proteins, complex carbohydrates, and good fats can effectively boost your immune system.

3. Build up healthy intestinal bacteria. For a healthy immune system, ample amounts of good bacteria help keep bad bacteria at bay. Drink raw, unpasteurized milk and eating plenty of organic, unpasteurized yogurt and kefir with live, active cultures. Supplement your diet with high-quality probiotics to make sure you get all the good bacteria you need for a healthy intestinal flora.

4. Exercise regularly. Some theories suggest that physical activity can help excrete infectious organisms through urine and sweat while others suggest that increasing blood circulation helps “warn off” threats to the immune system. Exercise decreases your chance of infection by slowing the release of the stress hormone cortisol.

5. Wash your hands regularly. Proper hand washing is the most effective barrier against the spread of infectious diseases. Use warm water and lather your hands with soap. Wash for at least 20 seconds and rinse, letting the water run down from the wrist to the fingers. Don’t overuse antibacterial soaps as it can lead to drug-resistant superbugs.

6. Get plenty of restful sleep. While you’re dreaming of paradise, your immune system is busy rebuilding and repairing itself. However, if you have trouble with sleep, don’t start counting sheep.

7. Protect yourself from mold. Household mold is a hidden invader that can weaken the immune system and cause respiratory illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and other diseases. If you suspect mold, have a professional evaluate your home. Wash or replace pillows and mattresses to remove any hidden mold that you may be inhaling during sleep.

As a bottom line, building up your immune system and protecting it should be a daily priority. With a healthy, multi-faceted approach, you can learn to strengthen your immune system and feel a lot better.