Tips For Managing Stress

A lot of people are not aware that in moderation, stress can actually be good for us; it teaches our body how to cope with the everyday pressure we experience. It used to be that stress was a way for our body to let us know we're in danger. Our heart rate would increase, our muscles tensed up, and we would have heightened senses so we could prepare for the danger. This was a type of primal defense mechanism that helped people survive. So really, stress is a survival tool that we all need.

Managing stress does not mean trying to make it go away altogether. It means properly dealing with stress so it can work for you. It's important to figure out how to deal with the things that cause us stress and to figure out how to adapt so we can improve the situations. You cannot ever get rid of stress in your life; you wouldn't want to anyway because stress can be helpful.

The key to managing stress is to know your limits. There are people who don't deal well with even a little stress. Then there are those who actually do better under stress because stress helps them become more focused and driven. In many cases, that cup of coffee we drink in the morning to help wake us up can have the same affect as stressful situations and events on our body. What that means is that we sometimes use our stress reactions to keep us alert and focused.

What to Do About Stressors

A big part of managing stress is finding some healthy manner of coping with the stressors in your life. A stressor is any event, situation, or person that makes you feel stressed. In some cases, you can be at your best when you're coping with stressors. For example, you may surprise yourself by how well you react to a stressful or dangerous situation. In some cases, people use a variety of defense mechanisms including humor or fidgeting for managing stress. These are small things that may not seem like much but they are a good way to cope with stress, as they give the brain a distraction from the situation or event that is causing stress.

The best way to manage stress is to pay attention to your body and the way it reacts to stressors so you can change your behavior for the better. In some cases, people find smoking helps with managing stress. However, smoking actually causes damage to the body and that can bring on more stress. A healthy way to respond to stress is to go on a brisk walk instead. People can learn to adapt that behavior into a healthier way of managing stress. It is important to change our behaviors so they are as healthy as possible.