Everywhere you turn, you hear about or see dire economic news.

Stress can turn you into a basket case and open yourself to illness and make you more accident-prone.

Here are some ways you can take better care of yourself in tough economic times:

• Figure out what you can do to improve your financial position. Then stop obsessing about things you cannot control and focus on what is right in your life.

Every time you find yourself drifting into areas that make you feel powerless, make yourself stop. Rediscover what brings you joy, what fills you with gratitude.

Bring as many of those things to mind as you can, for as long as you can, as often as you can, to push out the dread. You can't be joyful and depressed at the same time.

If nothing comes to mind, look outward in the here and now. Maybe it's the way the wind moves the palm fronds or the raucous cry of a hunting osprey. Lock onto it and really enjoy it.

• Pay attention to your body. Comfort food is only comforting until it winds up as a spare tire - and then you've just created one more source of unhappiness.

• Watch your alcohol intake. Alcohol is a depressant.

• Exercise is more effective against depression than drugs.

Move. Walk. Dig in the garden. Ride your bike. Play with your kids. Shoot hoops. Do it in the morning, if you can. That will improve your outlook all day.

If you hate the idea of ''exercise,'' do something fun that gets your blood moving and warms your muscles. Exercise also helps you sleep better at night.

• Get enough rest.

If worry wakes you up at night, keep a pad and pen next to your bed. Write down your concerns, then turn off the light and go back to sleep. It works.

If your buzzing mind won't let you get to sleep, be aware of the position of your eyes.

I've noticed that when I can't shut off my brain, my eyes are usually pointed up and to the right -- somehow this is a more ''active'' position for my brain.

However, when I move my eyes down to the left, my body begins to relax. And shortly after that, I'm drifting off.

Sounds weird, but it works for me. If it works for you (in whatever configuration), let me know. We can be weird together!

• Manage your anger. There are plenty of valid reasons to be ticked off about the economic climate, but too much uncontrolled anger will strain your heart -- and put an emotional strain on all your relationships.

Channel your anger in beneficial ways. Exercise is good. So is working to make changes in the system that got us to this mess. Find people who are less fortunate than you are and give them a helping hand (this is also helps in the gratitude department.)

• Reframe your experience. Do you use the words ''recession,'' ''depression'' and ''financial crisis''? Do you hang out with people who are consistently negative? Is the sky always falling in your world?

You're the only one who can change that, and a coach can help.

Jackie Harder owns Key Dynamics, a coaching and consulting company in Key Largo, and is president of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce. Send workplace questions to jackie@key-dynamics.com.

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