Ten Tips on How to communicate well and look after yourself by Rachel Green.

1. State your limits Communicate your boundaries clearly. State what is acceptable and unacceptable, e.g. "I am not able to listen to you while you speak at that volume. Please speak to me in a quieter voice and I will be able to listen."

2. Laugh a lot.
   Research is seriously proving that there are a broad range of health benefits from laughter. Laugh at times of stress and the stress may go. Find the funny side to things going wrong and tell it to someone as a funny story - spread the laughter around the office rather than complaining.

3. Communicate directly
   Communicate clearly instead of hinting. For example, if your partner has left hair in the sink and it bothers you, don't just exclaim with a big tut, "There's hair in the sink," say something like, "While I'm cleaning my teeth the water isn't draining because hair is clogging the sink. Please could you clean your hair out of the sink each morning?"

4. Communicate your feelings
   Communicate your feelings instead of clamming up, e.g. instead of going quiet for 2 days because you seem to be doing everything for everyone you might say, "I am feeling taken for granted at the moment, please can you help me to do the dishes."

5. Exercise
   Exercise. I know some of us hate it, yet it is important to prevent many health problems. It is also known to diminish problems such as anxiety and depression. Do you get enough exercise? Are you Walking? Cycling? Swimming? Running? Playing sport? Dancing? Roller blading? There are many opportunities for exercise. If you find it hard to exercise, join a group or find an exercise buddy.

6. Try Feldenkrais
   Use the Feldenkrais method to help keep your body flexible and moving easily and efficiently. Check out The Feldenkrais Method for more information.

7. Choose the best friends for you
   Have people around you with similar values to yourself. Gain support from other people who care about the same things you do. For example, if you think looking after the environment matters, or meditation is good for your soul, have people in your life who think the same way.

8. Say, "No, thank you" nicely
   Learn how to say, "No, thank you" nicely so you can avoid becoming over committed without feeling guilty. 

9. Eat good food
   Eat the food that is good for your body. Don't eat for comfort. Resist junk food. Eat because you are hungry rather than lonely, angry or tired. Eat well. Your body will stay healthier when it is fed good food, and you will be better able to cope with stressful situations.

10. Don't take things personally
    Don't take things personally - you hurt yourself when you do this. If you carry around with you resentments over something that someone has said, if you get angry and retaliate against other people, if you read criticism into things where no criticism is intended you hurt yourself.