Everyone deals with different types of stress for different reasons. Feeling stressed out from time to time is a universal part of being human, but the sources of your stress might differ from someone else’s. 

First of all, we all are born with an “early warning system” that detects potential threats, real or imagined and prepares us to defend. This is often referred to as the “fight or flight response”. 

Acute stress is short-term stress and generally goes away after the stressor is removed. Although, in some cases, if the stressor persists, individuals may suffer more chronic forms of stress such as longer-term,  from a trauma and can be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some people however may experience long-term stress, or chronic stress, which can cause distress and negative effects on the immune system leading to high blood pressure, tension headaches, tightening of muscles and can affect your blood glucose levels. Stress and anxiety can also affect your mood, as well as make you more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, panic disorder, and depression

The sources of stress in your life – the things that tend to make you feel anxious and on-edge – are called stressors. When one encounters stressors, the body’s stress response is triggered, and a series of physiological changes take place, affecting the homeostasis of an individual, forcing them to have a fight or flight response.

Any potential threat, real or imagined, can act as a stressor. There are social stressors like a traffic jam or argument with a spouse as well as things that have a positive impact on your life like a promotion at work. Of course major life changes like a divorce or a natural disaster can also be great stressors. The more important you feel something is, the more potential it has to be a stressor. Stressors can be people, commitments, objects, or entire aspects of your life. If it raises your stress levels...it’s a stressor!

Because stress can come from all directions, and because everyone’s stressors are unique, we want to make sure you’re equipped to identify the type of stressors in your life and limit contact with them as much as possible. At R3SET, we firmly believe that anyone can have a calmer mind and a happier life by taking proactive steps to minimize stress. Living a more peaceful life starts with identifying the primary stressors in your life and taking action to stop them from influencing your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

In this post, we’ll be talking about some of the most universal stressors, how they affect your physical and mental health, how you can spot the signals and symptoms as well as limit their negative impact with stress-fighting strategies and relaxation techniques. 

Ready to conquer stress? Let’s get started.

Primary Stressor #1: Your Job

Work, like stress, is an unavoidable part of adult life. No matter what your chosen career path is, you’re bound to deal with some work-related stress from time to time. However, the stress and anxiety caused by work can be crippling for some. It’s even possible that your job is the primary cause of stress in your life. For anyone one with severe work-related stress, starting a workday can feel like an impossible task. Stress and anxiety related to work can make it tough to focus, both on the job and while you’re at home. Thoughts of work-related responsibilities and obligations can start creeping into every aspect of your life, throwing off your work-life balance and making you feel paralyzed.

If this sounds like you – a picture of someone drowning in work related stress– you might be tempted to try solving the problem by quitting your job and looking for another source of income. However, while quitting might seem like the best solution, we believe there’s a better way to go. 

Instead of abandoning ship when your job starts to make you chronically stressed and anxious, see if you are able to cultivate a healthier relationship with what you do for a living. In many cases, all it takes to feel calmer and happier on the job is a few simple, practical changes to the way you work – and the way you think about work.

If your job is causing you inordinate amounts of stress, one of the most important steps to take for a calmer mind is to strengthen your work-life balance. Work-life balance is a term used to describe the degree of separation between your career and the many other aspects of your life – your relationships, your hobbies, your everyday responsibilities, and your personal dreams and aspirations.

To strengthen your work-life balance, you’ll need to maintain boundaries with your boss, your coworkers, and yourself. If you typically say yes to every responsibility, commitment, and obligation thrown your way, it’s time to start practicing throwing a few nos in the mix. Saying no to unnecessary work-related tasks helps you retain the time and energy that you need to focus on other important aspects of your life.

In addition to knowing when to say no at work, it’s also important to leave your work where it belongs...at the workplace! When you finish your workday, you should ideally be able to stop focusing on work-related tasks and enjoy time with your family, with your friends, and by yourself. As much as you can, try to compartmentalize your day, setting up a designated time for work and a designated time for other important aspects of your life. Setting these boundaries will help you maintain a strong work-life balance and can also help to minimize work-related stress and anxiety. 

Primary Stressor #2: Your Relationships

Being close with other human beings is one of the best parts of life. However, any relationship – good or bad – can be a stressor. When there is conflict or tension in a relationship, it’s easy to start getting stressed and anxious, and for some, relationship anxiety is chronic and crippling. Thoughts of losing the people you love, guilt related to mistakes you’ve made, and feelings of insecurity and unworthiness can all be sources of relational stress and anxiety.

While there’s no surefire way to avoid all stress in relationships, there are several steps you can take to reduce the amount of relational stress and anxiety that you experience. A few of the most effective ways to make your relationships as stress-free as possible are to communicate effectively, take time for yourself, and prioritize the most important relationships.

• Effective communication can help to minimize conflict, tension, and stress within relationships. You’ve probably received plenty of unsolicited relationship advice about how “communication is key,” but it bears repeating. Maintaining strong communication in relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and your significant other can help give you the social support needed to navigate difficult and potentially stressful situations.
• Taking time for yourself helps you avoid relational burnout. While relationships can be energizing and fulfilling, everyone also needs alone time. Even if you’re a highly extroverted, outgoing person, you can still benefit from taking time to decompress, recharge, and de-stress on your own. In your alone time, consider practicing de-stressing by meditating, journaling, exercising, or taking up a calming hobby.
• Prioritize the most important relationships to keep yourself from being spread too thin. One of the main sources of stress in relationships is poor prioritizing. If you feel that your relational energy is always being drained by a long string of acquaintances and surface-level relationships, it may be helpful to start reevaluating your relational priorities. Whenever you can, focus the most energy on the most important people in your life. Remember, your time and your social batteries are finite! Use them wisely!

In addition, while both healthy and unhealthy relationships can cause stress, it’s important to note that if a relationship is causing you chronic stress – stress for an extended period of time – it may be a sign of deeper issues. It can be highly beneficial to speak to a therapist if you are experiencing chronic relational stress and anxiety.

So, How Can I Limit Contact With Stressors? 

While they’re two of the most common and universal sources of stress, work and relationships are far from the only stressors. As you’ve learned, stressors are everywhere. Financial woes, concerns about your health, unexpected circumstances, and world events are all common stressors as well, and they’re just a few on the long list of potential sources of stress and anxiety. So, with so many stressors out there, what can be done to keep yourself calm and happy?

As you know, it’s virtually impossible to live a completely stress-free life – and that’s okay. Stress is a universal part of being human, but it doesn’t have to rule your life. While you can’t keep stressors from affecting you completely, you can take practical steps to minimize their negative impact on your life. Below are a few of the best ways to limit your contact with stressors.

• Try stress-fighting supplements. R3SET’s CALM and UNWIND capsules make the perfect additions to a strong stress-fighting regimen. Our blend of 12 natural ingredients can help give your mind an extra boost of focus and equip you to power through the day without being overwhelmed by stress and occasional anxiety. To learn more about R3SET supplements, click here.
• Form healthy stress-fighting habits. Exercise, meditation, yoga, deep breathing, getting plenty of sleep, and eating a healthy, balanced diet are all excellent tactics to put into place for reduced stress. Filling your life with natural stress-fighters, such as daily meditation sessions and weekly exercise, can help you stay calm and happy, and keep a normal heart rate, even in the face of the stresses of everyday life. These habits can be tough to form at first, but sticking with stress-fighting routines gets easier with time. Even when you feel like giving up, stick with it and you will eventually combat the effects of stress!

Summary 

Stress is everywhere, but there’s hope. You’ve got the power to live a less stressed life, and it starts with deciding to put healthy, calming habits into practice each day – like taking R3SET supplements! To learn more about our signature blend of natural stress-supporting ingredients, make sure to visit the R3SET blog. There, you’ll find plenty of helpful information about the science of stress, how it affects three key systems within your body, and how you can use R3SET supplements to live a calmer life.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-management/art-20044151

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7037206/