Our work lives are often filled with what can seem like unbearable amounts of stress. And while some of those stresses are unavoidable, there’s a lot you can do to start to whittle those high levels of stress down to something that feels at least manageable. Here are a few suggestions:

• Know when to say no. That means you have to first understand your own limits. Then set limits on others so they don’t encroach on your time by pressuring you to take on tasks or responsibilities that will throw you out of balance.

• If possible, avoid people who consistently stress you out. If your boss is the culprit, you might not be able to do this. And you can’t steer clear of everyone who inadvertently or occasionally causes you anxiety. But you can avoid people who have a history of leaving you feeling stressed after you’ve tried to change the situation and they haven’t responded.

• Don’t expose yourself to unnecessary environmental stressors. For instance, if you read the news on the Internet during your break, but it leaves you feeling tense, stop reading the news on your break. Do something that relaxes you instead: Go for a short walk, knit, meditate, work a puzzle.

• Learn to manage your time. Letting projects go until the deadline is upon you will undoubtedly cause you stress. Work at a steady pace—and don’t procrastinate. Procrastination can affect the quality of your work and leave you feeling anxious and strained for prolonged periods.