Let’s face it: Work can be stressful. Even happy news, such as earning a well-deserved promotion, can take a toll if it means long hours while you learn the new job. Staying sane and healthy when work is stressful takes a proactive approach.

Make sure you get plenty of exercise and sleep each day; don’t assume you can just make up for it later, as short-term crises have a way of dragging on longer than you might expect. If possible, build short, frequent breaks into your day. You might feel as though you can’t spare the time, but if you’re refreshed, you’ll be more efficient.

Nearly half of working mothers say they would take a pay cut if it meant they could spend more time with their children, with about a third saying they would be willing to give up 10 percent or more of their salaries, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey of 880 full-time working women with children living at home.

If that’s your dream, don’t assume it’s impossible. With the economy stalling, many employers are feeling a drop in revenue, and they are looking to pare back costs. To win your employer over, make sure your pitch emphasizes how a reduced schedule and reduced salary would benefit the organization — not just your work-life balance.

More than a third of workers feel more relaxed than stressed when they are connected to work by a wireless device, such as a BlackBerry, and another 42 percent said they are indifferent to their wireless device, according to Yahoo HotJobs’ annual virtual workplace survey.

In many cases, though, that relaxed attitude has come with a relaxed attitude toward manners.

Yahoo HotJobs’ Managing Editor Tom Musbach offered these tips for appropriate use of wireless devices: Keep your device on vibrate, avoid taking calls when you’re in close quarters, don’t interrupt meetings or dinners with calls or e-mail and use text messaging and e-mailing when possible, instead of calling.

To Musbach’s list, I would add one more: Don’t think that texting is somehow invisible — or silent. People sitting next to you at the movies and restaurants don’t want to listen to you tap-tap-tapping on your keyboard, either.

Mary Ellen Slayter writes on careers for The Washington Post.