Fall 2001
Volume III, Issue III

In these challenging times you may wish to test your stress level.

Stress Test

(Circle the answer that applies to you.)

Per week
Often 2+ times rarely never
People tell me I'm tense or anxious 3 2 1 0
My body/mind responds to tension with indigestion, headaches, muscle stiffness or insomnia. 3 2 1 0
People at home or work make me tense. 3 2 1 0
I am unable to let go of stress at night or weekends. 3 2 1 0
Concentration on a single task is difficult because I start worrying about other things. 3 2 1 0
I take some form of drug or tranquilizer to relax or to help me sleep. 3 2 1 0
I don't have enough time to relax. 3 2 1 0
I laugh a lot and have fun at home and at work. 0 1 2 3
I participate in some planned regular physical activity. 0 1 2 3
I practice some form of of specific stress reduction technique. 0 1 2 3

Add up your circled scores. If you score greater than 20, it's probable that your life is becoming unbalanced. Make some selected changes to decrease your stress (learning to say "No" often helps), and increase your de-stressors such as exercise, laughter and relaxation.

This Stress Test also can be found in "The Little Book of Lifestyle Artistry."