Stress affects quality of life. Identifying its symptoms can help cope with it by taking some simple steps.
Varsha is a homemaker. Her day starts at six in the morning. As soon as she wakes up there are thousands of chores she has to accomplish. Her daily routine consists of making breakfast for her family, preparing her kids for school, preparing their lunch boxes, cooking, cleaning and the list is never ending. She finds herself lucky if she gets a short break from her routine. At the end of the day Varsha is so stressed that she feels like tearing her hair out.
Like Varsha, stress is experienced by many people at some point or the other. A child feels stressful while dealing with exams, an entrepreneur feels stressed out while dealing with business; a common man confronts stress while tackling his daily expenses and so on.
What is stress?
Stress can be experienced in different arenas of life such as school, jobs and relationships. Stress is very hard to define. What could be a nerve-racking situation for one may not be that much stressful for the other. Stress is the result of any situation which makes you feel frustrated, irritated and nervous.
Common symptoms of stress
Here are some common symptoms of stress divided into three major areas. If you are experiencing these symptoms for more than a month then you may be leading a stressful life.
Physical symptoms
Emotional symptoms
Relationship symptoms
- Frequent arguments and quarrels
- Clashes with co-workers and employees
- Feeling left out and isolated
Stress is not always negative
Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one. Stress can be positive if you view it as a challenge. A stressed out person needs to acquire the right attitude towards stress.
Experts believe that certain amount of stress is necessary in day to day life. For example, a student who has to present his report in front of a packed classroom may feel stressed. He may experience stage fright. But his stress can lead him to take the challenge. He will prepare thoroughly for his presentation and this could lead to positive results at the end. On the other hand, inadequate stress could be damaging as it makes you feel depressed and miserable.
Positive thinking and stress are interrelated. Being optimistic can reduce half of your worries. Having a negative point of view regarding every task you do is the first step of the ladder called stress. Do not make your failures affect you, instead try again. De-stress a little and take some time off. You can always do it better next time. Positive thinking tackles stress, making you live longer and healthier.
Coping with stress
Stress has become an inseparable part of life in the present fast paced times. As working hours are being stretched longer, family and health become the victims of stress. If you can identify the symptoms of stress then do not wait to cope with them. Learn to cope with stress with some of these simple but powerful ways and beat that stress away.
Meditation
The aim of meditation is to calm down your worries. It is the great way to cope with stress. Find out a quiet corner in your home and practice meditation. Try to get rid of wandering thoughts and focus on your surroundings. Practice this daily for five minutes and you will notice positive results.
Time Management
You should organise your day-to-day chores and should priorities your activities. Maintaining a schedule is a good idea to tackle deadlines. An organised life can help you reduce stress to a large extent. When you are prepared there is always some time on hand to manage life. You can go easy on yourself. For example, keeping things in their place the night before can help you reduce anxiety in the morning when you cannot find things.
Workout
Making exercise a routine will keep your mind and body fit thus lowering the level of stress. Devote about 15-20 minutes daily to a workout session. If you are physically fit then you will be able eliminate half of your stress. Yoga could be a great way to beat the stress.
Enough sleep
Insufficient amount of sleep could be the major cause of stress. A normal adult needs 8 hours of sleep. Adequate and sound sleep is necessary to lead stress free lives. A good amount of sleep can even delay the onset of the skin's ageing process. So hit the bed on time to rise and shine the next day.
Healthy eating
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is the key to a stress free life. One should know the importance of vitamins, calcium and essential minerals in diet. A balanced diet will keep away stress. There are other health benefits too that a balanced diet offers.
According to the American Medical Association 60% of all human illness and diseases are the outcomes of stress. Acute stress could speed up the ageing process also. Stress may lead to drug addiction, alcoholism, obesity, heart problems and other damaging behaviours. So if you find yourself fighting with stress more than often, it may be advisable to make a few lifestyle changes and lead a stress-free life.
What problems have you come across due to stress? Have you done anything to overcome stress? Have you been successful in managing stress? To share your tips, views, and experiences, click here.
