Learning to Manage Stress

Have you ever had one of those days where it seems like the world is out to get you? Your to do list is too long, your bank account is empty, the kids are driving you crazy, and you just want to curl up into a ball and hope everything fixes itself. These are all examples of stressors. Stressors are an unavoidable part of life and each person reacts to situations that provoke stress differently. Having the right attitude and knowing how to manage stress is an important task because stress can take a toll on your health.

Not all stress is bad. Actually, some stress keeps us safe. For example, if a woman sees a strange man while walking alone to her car after work, she may go back to her place of employment and ask somebody to walk with her. In this case, the strange man was her stressor and she reacted by asking for help. When we encounter a situation that stresses us out, it's our fight or flight response taking action. Some people will choose to run from the problem, others will face it head on.

Stress can display itself as a behavioral, physical, and/or emotional symptom. During my final year of college I went to the doctor because my jaw hurt so bad that I could barely open it. I was surprised when "stress" was my diagnosis. When stress becomes unmanageable, people are setting their bodies up to be more prone to colds and infections, restless nights, problems with their stomach, muscle tension, and fatigue.

There are a lot of situations that cause stress. It's important to build healthy relationships, so you have a support system during stressful times. You should also avoid being overwhelmed by creating realistic daily to do lists. Also, make sure these to do lists are not full of "have to be done" items like taking out the garbage, doing the dishes, finishing laundry, and scrubbing the floor. Include something for yourself everyday, whether it is to finish a chapter from your book, get a facial, or take a class.

Meeting goals can also cause a great deal of stress. For example, somebody may have the goal of losing 20 pounds by the end of the month. This goal is too aggressive to happen in one month. Instead, goals should be broken down into small and manageable steps. For example, the goal could first be to stop eating fast food and to eat fewer calories. Now, the goal is more manageable because the expectations are more realistic. From here a deadline goal could be set to lose 4 pounds by the end of the month by sticking to your small steps.

Delegating some responsibilities is another way of reducing stress in your life. If you need help from your coworkers, family, or friends then you should ask for it. Also, if somebody is delegating a responsibility to you, it's okay to say no. In fact, you should say no if you already have an overwhelming number of things that need to be done. Some people end up with more than they can handle because they say yes every time they're asked to do something.

When stress takes over, avoid drugs and alcohol which can make everything worst. This would also be a time to practice relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation. Don't let stress take over your life and remember that it's a temporary state. Things will get better.