Stress is defined as physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. It’s something we will all face many times in our lives. It can be triggered by something small, and disappear as quickly as it came. But, sometimes it’s something more significant that stays in the back of our minds for a long time. There’s probably nothing we can do that will prevent stress completely, but figuring out what causes us stress and how we react to it is the best way to be able to cope better in the future.
So, how do we identify our stress triggers? The Mayo Clinic suggests keeping a stress journal for a week, documenting situations that cause you stress, and including the who, what, when, where, and why, plus a rating of how intense the stress became. Once you determine the things, people, and places that are causing you the most persistent, intense stress, you’ll know where to direct your energy.
Seemingly small things like organizing your space and recording tasks in a planner can help with time management, and reduce stress. Stepping back from the situation for a few minutes and calming down before reacting is often a good idea. It’s also incredibly helpful to talk and/or write about the things that are bothering you. Find someone you can vent to, whether it be a close friend or family member, a therapist, or a co-worker, as long as it’s someone you can trust. The last thing you need is to worry about people sharing your secrets. Writing is incredibly therapeutic too. Buy yourself a journal, or write blog post drafts and never post them. Simply opening a Word doc and typing until you run out of words can be a great release.
WebMD recommends other ways to relax your mind and body, such as focusing your energy on something you enjoy, mediating or exercising. One thing I would caution, from personal experience, is that doing something you enjoy should only be a temporary distraction. Bottling up your stress and ignoring it will only make it harder to deal with later on, and could eventually be detrimental to your health.
We all lead incredibly busy lives. As students or young professionals, we are constantly on the go, so it’s easy to become overwhelmed by tasks and responsibilities. You will be stressed, but you can deal with it. Begin by taking a deep breath and saying to yourself, “I’m okay. I can do this.” Identify your triggers. Keep breathing. Do what you need to do to relax and approach the situation with a clear head. Then, figure out what you can do to make it better. Maybe your stress will turn into motivation. You never know. Just remember to breathe.
What do you do to combat stress? Have you tried something like a stress journal to identify stress triggers?
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