Are you exercising enough? Are you exercising too much? Are you doing the right kind of exercise to relieve your stress? Take the following quiz to determine if your exercise routine is the right prescription for you:

1. Which of the following best describes your opinion about exercise?

A. Love it, love it, love it! Couldn't go without it!

B. Sometimes it's fun, and sometimes it's tolerable, depending on my mood.

C. It's a necessary evil.

D. It's something other people do.

2. After exercise, how do you typically feel?

A. Exhausted but satisfied

B. Cranky and irritable

C. Euphoric

D. Relieved that it's over

3. How often do you exercise each week?

A. One or fewer times per week

B. Two or three times a week for fifteen to thirty minutes

C. Daily for an hour or more

D. On most days for thirty to sixty minutes

4. If you are unable to do your regular exercise routine, how do you feel?

A. I feel panicked.

B. I feel like I've been let off the hook.

C. Inconvenienced, but I'll make up for it later.

D. What regular exercise routine?

5. Which of the following is most likely to keep you from exercising?

A. Nothing

B. Boredom with the exercise routine

C. Stress

D. Lack of energy and motivation

Give yourself points according to the following:

• A: 1, B: 2, C: 3, D: 4

• A: 2, B: 4, C: 1, D: 3

• A: 4, B: 3, C: 1, D: 2

• A: 1, B: 3, C: 2, D: 4

• A: 1, B: 3, C: 2, D: 4

If you scored between 5 and 8 points, you are super-motivated to exercise, and that's great … unless you have become so dependent on exercise that you get stressed out when you miss an occasional workout, or unless you have become addicted to exercise. If you are exercising too much, or if your exercise routine is controlling you rather than the other way around, it's time to ease off a bit and seek balance by developing other areas of your life that promote health. For example, you could concentrate on eating a nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water, getting sufficient sleep, and enjoying spiritual renewal such as meditation and relaxation. Don't forget to spend time with the people you love, too, and every now and then, see if you can relax and do absolutely nothing at all.

If you scored between 9 and 12 points, you have probably established exercise as an integral part of your routine and you are already reaping the benefits. Just remember to stay flexible, vary your routine, and stay balanced in the other areas of your life, too. You should feel great that you've been able to master this most effective stress relieving technique. Good for you! When stress does interfere with your regular routine, don't be afraid to do something easier and more relaxing for exercise, such as take a slower walk or do an easy yoga routine.

If you scored between 13 and 16 points, you know exercise is good for you and manage most of the time, but you aren't always happy about it. You may need to try another form of exercise to keep yourself motivated. Consider your likes and dislikes and try to match them with something that will get you moving, like a cool new exercise machine at the gym or a hike in the wilderness.

If you scored between 17 and 20 points, you just don't like exercise, or you just can't find the time to fit it in. Whether you are worried that you won't know how to exercise the right way or burned out from too much stress and a too-hectic lifestyle, you are letting the most effective stress relieving technique out there pass you by. Don't be afraid to start slow and build up to a more moderate exercise routine at a comfortable pace. Exercise shouldn't be painful or unpleasant. The more regular your exercise becomes, the more you'll be able to see it working its magic in your life.