Two GPs have launched a campaign to de-stress the public and help people avoid mid-winter blues.
The doctors have issued their top ten stress-buster tips in the county of Northamptonshire.
Tips include taking on new personal challenges, such as new sports, and setting aside personal time during the week.
Dr Peter Wilczynski and Dr Darin Seiger say people who feel stressed should find solutions that satisfy themselves "and not someone else."
They also call for people feeling stress to avoid unhealthy habits such as alcohol and caffeine, suggesting that doing volunteer work might help put problems "in perspective."
Tips also include working "smarter, not harder" and being positive together with sharing problems with other people.
The project is being run through the county’s clinical commissioning groups.
The doctors say the effect of stress is reflected in the 20% of visits to GPs that involve mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Dr Wilczynski, chair of NHS Corby CCG, said: “We all have mental health, like we all have physical health. Both change throughout our live and, like our bodies, our minds can become unwell.
"Mental health problems might actually be more common than you think. One in four of us will be affected by mental illness in any year."
And Dr Seiger, who chairs the Nene CCG, said: “Spotting the early signs of stress will help you figure out ways of coping and stop you adopting unhealthy coping methods such as drinking or smoking.
"There are many things you can do to manage stress more effectively such as learning how to relax, taking regular exercise and adopting good time-management techniques.”
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