Managing Stress: 3 Life Lessons

For some, managing stress almost seems like a full time job. And it's no wonder. There are so many things that can cause stress in our busy, hectic lives. Working a full time job. Going to school. Raising children. Not to mention all the little challenges and disasters that seem to pop up every day. Sometimes, you can't help wondering if life will ever give you a break.

However, while external forces can cause stress, how much stress they cause you can depend on how you choose to deal with those stress inducers. In fact, the best way to handle stress long term might be to change your outlook on the stressful situations you deal with every day.

Do You Really Have to Deal With This?

There are many stresses in your life that you don't actually have to deal with. You just haven't consciously realized it.

For example, maybe there is a person at work that you don't really like. Talking to them leaves you feeling annoyed and irritated. But you don't want to be rude and not talk to them.

However, there are polite ways to excuse yourself from a conversation. And it's better than being upset all day over whatever annoying thing they might have said to you that morning.

Consider all the stressful situations in your life, like bad traffic, being late, or bad food in the cafeteria. Chances are a lot of the stress inducers on your list could be avoided with a little effort.

Just Say No

One of the biggest causes of stress in some people's lives is the inability to say no.

Someone asks them to do something they don't really want to do. They consider saying no, which makes them feel guilty, which causes them stress.

Unable to say no, they agree to do what they've been asked to do. But they feel angry and resentful about it, which causes them to feel stressed.

Then, whatever they've been asked to do probably makes their lives even more busy and hectic than they already are, causing them even more stress.

Learning to say no is one of the quickest, easiest ways to reduce the stress in your life. You might feel guilty at first. And people who are used to you doing whatever they ask you to do might be a little annoyed when you refuse them for the first time. But you and they will get used to it. And, on those occasions when you do say yes, it will be because you really want to, and you'll actually enjoy doing the favor.

Accept the Things You Cannot Change

Stressing over things you can't change is a waste of time and energy.

Hoping you get the promotion is fine. But worrying yourself so sick over it that you lose your concentration, become forgetful, and can't do your job as well as you usually do certainly won't make that promotion happen. Instead, accept that whether you'll get the promotion or not is out of your hands. And continue doing your job to the best of your ability to increase your chances.

There are some things (like bad traffic and unpleasant relatives) that you can't change. Accepting and deciding to be at peace with those things will decrease the stress in your life.

Stress is a normal part of life. But managing stress is often about changing the way you look at things.

For more information on managing stress of any kind, please visit Zap-Stress.com and subscribe to Brian's free newsletter on everyday stress management and download his free no-risk report on ways you can get started today in living a stress-free life.