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Time Management
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important that you understand the degree to which you’re vul-
nerable to stress. Studies show that people who are the least
vulnerable to stress tend to exhibit the following characteristics:
• They have many friends and acquaintances.
• They eat regular meals.
• They sleep well.
• They drink alcohol sparingly.
• They don’t smoke.
• They exercise regularly.
• They rarely drink coffee.
• They’re affectionate.
• They feel comfortable with the amount of money they
make.
• They’re in good health.
• They gain strength from their spiritual beliefs.
• They’re open about their feelings.
• They belong to at least one club or social group.
• They are neither overweight nor underweight.
It’s important to note that if some of these healthy charac-
teristics don’t apply to you, you can change. You can decide to
exercise more, smoke less, cultivate friendships, and avoid
skipping meals. And, if you do, you’ll be armoring yourself
against those stressful forces that often are inevitable. And
remember: time management can serve as a sturdy, second
shield to parry many of life’s pressures.

Type A—and Type M—Behavior
Several decades ago, a group of researchers noticed certain
psychological patterns in people who were prone to disease—
especially heart disease. They labeled the syndrome “Type A”
behavior.
Since then, a great deal more has been learned about Type
A behavior, including that such behavior is not quite as simple
as people once believed. One lasting insight emerged, though:
that aggressive, hostile reactions to threats—perceived or actu-