Do you suffer from frequent or occasional headaches? More than 32% of people report getting a headache at least once a week. The debilitating pain from a headache can ruin an otherwise productive day – costing you money. New research shows you may be able to avoid headaches just by changing a few things in your diet…

The worst culprit is caffeine. Eliminating caffeine from your diet can be tricky, because if you’re been drinking coffee or tea for a while, you may go through a series of “withdrawal” headaches for days after quitting. The best advice: Eliminate caffeine SLOWLY from your diet. If you drink 2 cups a day, try going to 1/2 cup twice a day for 2 days…then 1/4 cup twice a day for 2 days…then 1/4 cup once a day for 2 days…then try quitting altogether. Replace your old caffeinated drinks with decaf coffee, tea and soft drinks, and you could see your headaches dwindle or disappear altogether.

Another culprit may be high fat foods. Scientists have found that high fat foods (fast foods and high fat dairy) increase the frequency of headaches. Limit your fat intake to 20% of your calories. Avoid any foods that contain hydrogenated oils (usually found in margarine, snack foods, and many bakery foods).

You might also consider avoiding wine, aged cheeses, and deli meats. These are high in tyramine, which can cause vascular spasms. And lastly, stay away from foods with additives like MSG (monosodium glutamate), nitrates and nitrites, which dilate blood vessels and can trigger migraine headaches.

Practicing real estate is nothing if not STRESSFUL. Prospecting, previewing, listing and showing…not to mention angry clients, DFT’s, and rude prospects…can really take their toll on you if you don’t have tools to manage the stress they bring.

Here are 3 simple techniques you can use throughout your day to lower your stress. Try them out and see if they improve your life…

Technique #1: A Sigh of Relief

Either stand up or sit straight in your chair. Next, take a deep breath, deeply expanding your lungs, and make a small sigh as you exhale (like the sigh you make when you get a great back massage). Then inhale as usual and do it again. Repeat this process 7 or 8 times.

Technique #2: Take A Hike!

When things get crazy, take a 3 minute hike. Get up, step outside and take a walk around your office or home. As you walk, take slow, deep breaths, and focus your attention on the nature around you: trees, grass, birds, flowers, etc. If you can’t get outside, the take a walk around your office or desk…or, better yet, if you have stairs, try several minutes of stair-climbers to get your heart and lungs moving.

Technique #3: Shoulder Stretch

Bring your shoulders back as if you are trying to touch your shoulder blades together. Push them together hard, but not so hard that you hurt yourself. Hold your shoulder blades together for 10 seconds, then release and push them forward. Repeat 4 or 5 times. Next, lower your chin to your chest and slowly roll your head back and forth (don’t roll your head backward as you can compress your cerebral spine).