Stress Management

While it may seem like there is nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control.

If you are living with high levels of stress, you are putting your entire well-being at risk. Stress wreaks havoc on their emotional equilibrium, as well as their physical health. It narrows their ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life. It may seem like there is nothing you can do about stress. The bills will not stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day, and their work and family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you might think.

Effective stress management helps you break the hold stress has on their life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive. The goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun—and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head-on. But stress management is not one-size-fits-all. That is why it is important to experiment and find out what works best for you. The following stress management tips can help you do that.

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in their life. This is not as straightforward as it sounds. While it is easy to identify major stressors such as changing jobs, moving, or going through a divorce, pinpointing the sources of chronic stress can be more complicated. It is all too easy to overlook how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours contribute to their everyday stress levels.

While stress is an automatic response from their nervous system, some stressors arise at predictable times: their commute to work, a meeting with their boss, or family gatherings, for example. When handling such predictable stressors, you can either change the situation or change their reaction. When deciding which option to choose in any given scenario, it is helpful to think of the four A’s: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You cannot prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it is easier than railing against a situation you cannot change.

When you are stressed, the last thing you probably feel like doing is getting up and exercising. But physical activity is a huge stress reliever—and you do not have to be an athlete or spend hours in a gym to experience the benefits. Exercise releases endorphins that make you feel good, and it can also serve as a valuable distraction from their daily worries according to Julia Lee.