How to Cope with Stress

I can always hear people saying that stress has become an unavoidable part of our life. Increased competition in every field is held responsible for this at schools and colleges. Corporate conflicts responsible for creating a stressful environment at the workplace and also at home.

Long working hours, parking problems, traffic jams, behavioral issues, financial problems, increased demands, pressure to lead a modern lifestyle, scarcity of free time for the family, are some other reasons that contribute to the pandemonium. Take a look at some simple ways to manage stress in day-to-day life.

Coping with pressure and tension becomes easy, once you realize that you are in control of your life. If you learn to say 'NO' and do not pay heed to the expectations of other people, in your personal as well as professional life, most of your problems disappear and you find yourself to be more content.

In the race to win, be the master of all trades, and be the best, accepting more responsibilities gives way to excessive undue stress, so you should strictly stick to your limits. By staying within your limits, you can perform your duties well. A feasible solution is to take one step at a time.

Do not let the situation at hand, the one that seems to be the cause of chaos in your life, rule over you. You should learn to control the environment. Look for alternatives and options. For example, you can take the longer route if the shortest route is blocked due to traffic. You can shop online if you are too tired to go to the market. If a friend or colleague is getting to you, you can limit the amount of time spent with him or, if possible, you can avoid his or her company entirely.

In spite of a busy schedule, you should make it a point to spare some time for family and for yourself. Try to learn some relaxation techniques like pranayama and yoga. Daily exercises, outdoor sports, nature trails, yoga and meditation, can help relieve stress. Exercises help maintain physical as well as mental fitness. Coping with stress becomes easier with a healthy mind and body in tow. Developing a hobby, for example, playing piano, reading, writing, dancing, swimming, or anything that makes you happy can help.

You must have noticed that stress management activities have found their way in the corporate world and have become an integral part of professional life. Top executives, workers in factories, people working in the police department, all need to learn how to handle pressure.

They are taught better communication techniques, prioritizing responsibilities, importance of sharing, importance of forgiveness, time management, setting reasonable standards for yourself and others, etc. These traits contribute to a stress-free life.

Laughter clubs work as good stress relievers. Doctors do prescribe medications but they are designed to treat symptoms and not the causes. So you should avoid taking those medications and stay away from their side effects.

Simple living and high thinking can help to a great extent, too. Thinking and living by the simple mantra that your glass is half full can get you through easily. If you want others to change their behavior, you should also be ready for the same. Smoking, drinking alcohol, overeating, withdrawing from friends, family and social activities, getting angry with others is not going to help in any way.

Stress management involves guiding your thoughts in the proper direction, controlling your emotions, planning and organizing your activities in advance, coming to terms with your environment, and finding solutions for problems. This will help you lead a healthy life and you will have plenty of time for work as well as fun. You will be able to handle work pressure and accept challenge, manage your time, energy, and resources brilliantly.