Quick quiz: You're ready to scream after the end of a hectic workday, but a long list of must-do holiday tasks still looms ahead. You fight traffic to get to the mall—where someone cuts you off to grab the last parking space. You need stress relief and you need it now. What's your best option?

A. Scarf down the box of chocolates you've been saving for just such an emergency.
B. Go home and melt into a hot bath.
C. Head to the day spa for a pampering massage.
D. Hit the gym and crank out 20 minutes on the treadmill.

The answer: D. We don't recommend such intensive chocolate therapy. And while massages and long soaks in the tub may feel great, exercise is the best de-stressor over the long term, experts say.

Along with the well-known physical benefits, exercise has been shown to "increase one's sense of well-being, mood state, self-esteem, stress responsivity, (and) body image, as well as decreased depression and anxiety," says Jesse Pittsley, PhD, a spokesperson for the American Society for Exercise Physiologists.

Just what is it about exercise that makes a person feel good (other than those toned abs)? And what are the best moves to do when you're feeling stressed, especially when time is at a premium? Three experts gave WebMD some answers.

Better information. Better health. WebMD