Stress affects everyone differently. And while some people may be able to face down anxiety and thrive despite it, others find that the nuisances and responsibilities in their lives have a tendency to build on themselves until even the most mundane tasks seem insurmountable.
Unfortunately, the things that trigger stress in an individual are just as varied as the way that those stresses are dealt with. However, there are some common causes that seem to have a bigger impact than others on a larger slice of the population. The good news is that you don’t have to allow these stresses to ruin your happiness.
Here are five common stressors and how you can help yourselves overcome them.
1. Work
Let’s just get the obvious one out of the way first. Approximately 70% of Americans absolutely hate their jobs. With numbers like that, it ‘s easy to see why work (and its baby brother, finances) are the number-one cause of stress in the nation. And there’s really no easy solution to the problem either. Sure, some people may suggest that a person simply find a career that they enjoy, but how helpful is that advice really? No one goes into the job market looking for something dreadful; however, people need money to survive, and it’s just a sad fact of life that many people work jobs they hate because it’s the only way for them to provide for themselves and their families.
At the same time, even activities that are enjoyable can quickly become tiresome when we’re forced to take part in them for forty hours a week. In reality, there is no simple way to reduce job-related stress. Instead, take things one step at a time. Set achievable goals, and reward yourself when you complete them. Take regular breaks, and keep track of your priorities.
If you feel as though your job provides insufficient employee recognition, then take some time every week to treat yourself for a job well done. If there are certain aspects of your job (or people you work with) that are the root cause of your stress, then identify them and do what you can (within reason) to distance yourself from them.
2. Children
Another stress that tends to hit young adults as they move out of their parents’ homes and enter the world is related to family—specifically, the arrival of children. A new baby can change your life in ways that you never would have imagined. This is because every baby is a completely different person. Some may take nice long naps during the day but refuse to sleep at night. Some may dislike eating, but still put all sorts of foreign objects into their mouths.
And things don’t get any easier as they grow into toddlers, gradeschoolers, and eventually young adults. The key to dealing with family stress is to put everything into perspective. If you’re having trouble with your children, then remind yourself of how empty your life would feel without them. Tell your children on a regular basis how much you love them. Keep a tight reign on your temper, and be sure that you never lash out at your children in anger (either physically or verbally). If you need to, then schedule a little bit of time away from your children every week—babysitters may not come cheap, but it’s better to lose a little money than to lose your sanity.
3. Romantic relationships
Relationships can be very stressful, especially romantic ones. Sure, when you first become involved with a new partner, every little thing that he or she does is absolutely charming. However, after a little while together, certain stresses may begin to manifest. The most important thing to do when you start to notice annoying little idiosyncrasies is to remind yourself that every person is different. There’s no such thing as the ‘perfect mate.’ There are, however, mates who are willing to compromise and work towards perfection.
Don’t try to fix your partner; if they want to change something about themselves, then you can help them improve. Otherwise, your attempts to make them better will only be seen as antagonistic. When dealing with stresses in the bedroom (whether you’re a new couple or have been together for decades), remember that sex should be intimate. Don’t bottle up feelings or allow resentment to fester. If something isn’t working, then share your concerns and help each other out. If the problem has to do with lasting longer in bed (or premature ejaculation, technically speaking), then consider researching some new endurance methods so that both partners can come away feeling satisfied.
4. School
School isn’t just a stress for the young; with the difficult economic times that the nation has been experiencing, more and more adults are deciding to go back to school. It seems like such a simple thing; you work during the day and attend classes at night or over the internet during your free time. But once the workload begins to pile up, many adult students find that trying to balance all of their responsibilities leads to insane levels of stress.
If possible, try to take things slowly. Don’t overload your class schedule unless you’re sure that you can handle it. Also. when dealing with distant schoolwork deadlines, be sure not to leave everything for the last minute—do a little bit of school work everyday and keep up with your assignments.
5. Health
There are few things more stressful than bad health. Health problems can prevent us from being able to earn a living, enjoy time with family, or even get a good night’s sleep. The best way to keep health issues from causing stress in our lives is to have a healthy lifestyle. For some, this may mean a drastic change in diet. For others it might mean more regular exercise or better sleeping habits.
Speak with your doctor and find out what you can do to improve your health. Also, don’t neglect your regular checkups; most major medical concerns can be corrected if found early enough.