TIPS ON COPING WITH SUBURBAN STRESS

Tips on coping with urban stress, from experts in psychology, leisure studies and urban planning:

* Exercise control: Find ways to maximize control over your environment. Commuters should try to anticipate congestion and plan the day around longer travel times. Use music, books-on-tape or other car diversions to cope.

* Relax: Schedule time to have fun every day. Play is the first thing to go in an urban lifestyle, yet it’s one of the most positive ways of coping with stress. It doesn’t have to be exercise; reading, watching movies and other passive activities count too.

* Fight graffiti: Either accept graffiti as part of the urban environment or consider getting involved in a neighborhood group to help eradicate it.

* Identify stress points: Accept the fact that most of the San Fernando Valley is no longer suburban and try to identify what you find most stressful. Acknowledging and talking about the problems will help you cope.