April's Focus: Stress Management

April is a particularly stressful time of the year for many Americans due to the impending tax deadline. To that, add non-stop media coverage of the world's economic woes, sinking housing markets, and daily stock market fluctuations, and it's not hard to see why so many people feel stressed.

But, stress can also be a positive influence. Often, stress is what helps people excel and increases their productivity--whether it is getting "pumped up" for a big presentation, or preparing for a competitive sporting event.

It is important to find a balance with stress. For most of us, it's the reduction of stress that we need. This article focuses on dealing with stress, and includes nine stress-reducing tips.