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Overworked, exhausted and stressed out are common characteristics of working professionals today. Add economic and job insecurity and the concept of self-care instinctively slides down the priority list.

But easing stress and tension is relatively easy, once you boldly remove yourself from the drama and get to the source of your stress. And a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health and released by the University of Rochester Medical Center reports that people who are more engaged in life are better able to withstand stress, and suggest that extroverts have a "survival advantage" over those who are less engaged in life.

Here are the top 5 ways to relieve stress and become more engaged in life:

1)    BREATHE DEEPLY. On average, adults take 20,000 breaths each day. Yet our breathing is usually shallow and not utilizing the lungs' capacity.  Deep breathing (breathing into the lower abdomen) helps calm the central nervous system and eases tension and stress.

2)    ELIMINATE ENERGY DRAINS. Get to the source of your stress. What actions, thoughts, objects or people are igniting the stress in your life? Identify and eliminate the source. Detach or dump them, or set boundaries that will help you move them out of your life.

3)    EXPRESS YOURSELF. If you are the person who bottles up your thoughts, words and emotions and then explodes under the stress, start speaking your truth in a gentle and diplomatic manner. Find the middle ground between biting your tongue and exploding.

4)    RELEASE YOUR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS. Hale Dwoskin, bestselling author of the Sedona Method says, "these feelings you have are just feelings. You can let these feelings go just as easily as you can let an object you are holding drop to the ground. These feelings you hold will only prevent you from having exactly what you want for as long as you hold them. Whether you choose to hold them for a long time - or whether you choose to release them now - right now; the choice is yours." Choose to let go.

5)    SMILE, LAUGH AND ENJOY THE PRESENT MOMENT. Laughter is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress. Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have studied the effects of laughter on the immune system. Their studies showed that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, boosts immune function and triggers the release of endorphins.

• Power Up On Protein
  Lean protein keeps you fueled for hours.
• Fuel Up on Fiber
  Fiber is a miracle nutrient that increases satiety (the feeling of fullness), dampens hunger and reduces caloric intake.
• Water, Water Everywhere
  Water does far more for your body than just satisfy your thirst. Every cell, tissue and organ needs water to function. Your body needs water to help process the nutrients consumed throughout the day, so drink up.
• Scrap the Processed Sugar and Processed Foods
  They cause the blood sugar to spike and within the hour you will be crashing, craving another sugar rush. Balance the sugar levels with protein and fiber.
• Ban the Bean after Noon
  Excessive caffeine can cause anxiety, insomnia, headaches or stomach irritation. Drink your cup in the morning, but ban the bean after noon and opt for a refreshing glass of water with a slice of lemon.