In this article you will find ways of managing stress. It is considered that stress occurs as a result of an imbalance between the demands of the environment and the internal and external resources available to a person. In many instances stress leads to a process of adaptation in the individual.

A moderate stress level is normal and inherent to life itself. People have adapted and changed their lifestyles throughout history due to stressful situations and many of these changes that were stressful at the time led us to produce positive results that have benefited us.

However, stress does have a negative impact on us often. Some stressful events we encounter in our personal lives may include: divorce; disease; death of a loved one; economic problems, discrimination, problems with our partner, problems with our children. These are only a few experiences leading to stress in one’s personal life. When a person experiences chronic stress they are more likely to have problems with their immune system, with increased risk of heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, ulcers, colitis and cancer. In addition, stress is often associated with psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Managing stress is key to both your physical and psychological health.

At times individuals may also experience stress at work. Stressful situations that are work related may include: fatigue, excessive number of working hours, changes in the workplace, lack of participation in decision-making, lack of support from management, lack of job security; conflicting demands and lack of clarity of the duties of the position; poor management of organizational changes; ineffective communication, psychological and sexual harassment, and violence by third parties to name a few. Managing stress is important to prevent negative effects of stress at work. Left untreated, stress may result in poor overall performance, increased absenteeism, and higher rates of accidents and injuries. It can also contribute to increased rates of early retirement.

Important Steps For Managing Stress

There are many ways to manage stress. Try some to find out which ones work best for you.

• Accept that you may not be able to change certain things, such as rush hour traffic.
• Avoid stressful situations. Whenever you possibly can, move away from the source of stress.
• Physical activity every day is the best and easiest way to deal with stress.
• Change your perspective. Work on replacing negative thoughts with more positive thoughts.
• Do something you enjoy. It can be as simple as reading a good book, listen to music, watch your favorite movie or out to dinner with a friend.
• Learn new ways to relax. Practicing relaxation techniques.
• Connect with your loved ones.
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat a healthy diet.

To help you manage work-related stress.

• Take breaks during the day. A few minutes to practice a relaxation exercise may be very helpful.
  • Set reasonable expectations for yourself and others.
  • Talk to your supervisor about your job description. Your responsibilities and performance criteria may not accurately reflect what you are doing.

Finally, working with a qualified therapist can help you determine the specific causes of your stress, and develop appropriate strategies for managing stress.