The great comedian George Burns once said, "If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it." As Mr. Burns lived to the age of 100, he likely took his own advice.

Most people would agree that stress can have a big impact on their health...and that prolonged stress can lead to far more serious symptoms then a tension headache, upset stomach, or sleepless night. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association's 2011 Stress in America™ survey , 94 percent of adults believe that stress can contribute to major illnesses like heart disease, obesity, and depression.

The good news from the survey is that, overall, the stress Americans are experiencing has reached its lowest level since 2007. The bad news is that stress levels are still higher than what most people consider healthy.

According to the survey, 22 percent of Americans reported experiencing extreme stress. In addition, only 27 percent of adults said that their stress decreased in the past five years while 53 percent said that they have experienced personal health problems because of stress.

Finding simple and useful ways to manage stress can make a big difference on our health and quality of life. That's why we invite you to watch this short video from Simple Truths, which will teach you 10 ways that you can simplify your life. As the video attests, "Life is a series of choices and YOU can choose LESS stress." Starting right now.

YOU Magazine is pleased to present Stress Is a Choice, a short film produced by Simple Truths, a consumer-direct publisher of motivational books and films. Visit www.simpletruths.com to learn more about this unique company.