Do you feel stressed sometimes? Often? All of the time? Are you stressed right now?
Sadly, it’s all too normal. And pinpointing what is making you stressed isn’t always so easy, either.
If you can’t find your cause of stress, how can you fix it?
In today’s blog, we go over seven of the most common causes of stress. We also cover how you can work to beat these common stresses.
Once we take a moment to step back and look at what’s stressing us out, it’s easier to find a plan to work through that stress.
See if any of the seven things below could be what’s stressing you out.
1. Not enough time
Running around all day with a seemingly endless list of tasks which keeps on getting longer is more than enough to stress you out.
There just isn’t enough time in the day.
The weight of undone tasks can leave you feeling like you can never relax. So, what can you do?
The best course of action is to better manage your time. We know how that sounds, but it comes down to a few things.
First, make a plan of what you want to accomplish throughout the day. Make sure that these are reasonable, meaning you actually have the time to check them off your list.
Second, prioritize. The truth is, many of us waste too much time throughout the day doing unimportant tasks. Organize your to-do list in an order of importance.
But third, also organize your to-do list so that the least pleasant jobs are first. Get them out of the way before accomplishing the more pleasant tasks. This will help keep you motivated.
Instead of scrambling around, stepping back and listing everything that needs to get done can help you not only feel less anxious, but inspired to see that list fully checked off.
2. Unhealthy lifestyle
Unfortunately, unhealthy habits can form because of stress. If you’re low on time, you may opt for quicker food options such as fast food or microwave dinners. Or maybe you smoke or drink to cope with the stress in your life. This is a vicious cycle, as unhealthy habits like this can actually add to your stress in the long run.
It’s easier said than done, but making changes toward a healthy lifestyle can help you greatly in the long run. Adopt a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and make sure you’re getting enough quality sleep.
Exercise in particular can help you cope with stress. Research has shown that those who exercise have better emotional resilience to stress. [1]
3. Taking on too much
You’ve heard the saying to not bite off more than you can chew. But are you following that advice?
Maybe you take on too much at work or home because you don’t want to let people down. But this can only leave you in a pit of stress and unending tasks, which will likely leave you either unable to complete what you promised to carry out, or not doing nearly as good of a job as you would have if you had the time and headspace.
If this is you, try and get better at just being honest with people about your limitations. Everyone understands that we can all only do so much. And, if they don’t, well that’s on them.
It’s better to be cautious about how much you can take on rather than promising too much. You can always do more later, but it’s more difficult to drop a task you’re already committed to. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you do find yourself in a jam.
4. Conflicts at work or home
If you’re dealing with a strained relationship – whether that’s due to a colleague you don’t get along with or a disagreement with a loved one – it can really hinder your outlook. These types of situations often only get worse the longer they go on without a resolution.
Arguments aren’t always avoidable, but do your best to steer clear of them whenever possible. This may require some compromise on both ends, but it will be easier in the long run to spend the time reaching a solution that both parties can be reasonably happy with.
A frank discussion is always better than a dispute.
5. The inability to accept things as they are
Stuff happens. And a lot of that stuff is out of your control. When you can’t change something, your only option is to change your perception. Otherwise, you’re wasting time on something while things you can control go without attention.
Depending on the circumstance, it may be difficult to overcome, but talking to others who are involved in some way can often help. They can offer that alternate perspective that can help you accept the situation.
6. Failure to relax
If you’re always on the go, you’re going to be in a constant state of tension and your body won’t be able to relax. This not only builds up stress, but reduces your effectiveness in the long run.
Remember above how we said to make a to-do list? Add a chunk of time in there that involves you doing something relaxing for yourself. You may be surprised to find that when you pencil in time to relax, you’re more productive throughout the day.
Research shows that breaks can improve your mood, overall well-being, and performance. Even just five-minute breaks here and there can have an impact. [2]
7. Non-work related issues
There are obstacles in life that we just won’t be able to avoid. Maybe you’re experiencing stress due to an illness in the family, having to care for dependents, a bereavement, moving house, or financial problems. Often these are unavoidable and not easy to deal with.
However, you’ll live a life of stress if you don’t at least attempt to deal with these issues. Larger situations such as these require larger responses. Maybe take some time off to focus on the problem at hand or ask your employer for a more flexible working arrangement. Perhaps even a career change could be just what you need.
No matter what you’re going through, others have been in a similar – if not the exact same – situation. Seek out their guidance. They may be able to help you through your situation in ways you never considered.
Preventing stress
We all get stressed and there’s no avoiding it completely. What we can do is manage our stress. Hopefully this blog can help you better prepare and deal with stress as it comes along.
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