By participating in a regular walking program, you can offset the long-term health implications of stress — and there are many. Research has linked stress to a host of physical ills, from back pain and stomach upset to high blood pressure and heart disease.

Of course, when you're under pressure, whatever its source, going for a walk may be the last thing on your mind. You're not the only one who feels that way. When researchers tracked the exercise habits of 82 women for 8 weeks, they found that the women worked out less often during weeks that were filled with stressful events. At those times, exercise was "just one more thing to do."