Stress in small doses isn’t a bad thing. Stress can challenge you to do your best. But too much stress can affect both your emotional and physical health. Learning what brings on stress in your life is the first step toward managing it. This assessment will help you identify your life “stressors.”
In each category, check all the items that currently apply to your life.
Current work situation:
___ Promotion
___ New job
___ Demotion
___ Reorganization
___ Being laid off
___ Boredom with job
___ Downsizing
___ Dislike of job
___ Increased workload
___ New technology
___ Working harder, accomplishing less
___ High responsibility, low control
___ Problem employee, supervisor or co-worker
___ Long-term unemployment
Recent major life events:
___ Marriage
___ Divorce
___ Reconciliation
___ Separation
___ Having a child
___ Death in the family
Recent personal events:
___ Physical injury
___ Illness
___ Medical crisis
___ Financial problems
___ Weight gain
___ Weight loss
___ Making a new friend
___ Taking a vacation
___ Children leaving home
___ Moving
___ Starting school
___ Completing school
___ Quit smoking, drinking or using drugs
___ Losing a good friend
___ Skipping a vacation
___ Difficulty finding good child care
The items you checked are your stressors—the situations that cause you stress. Any kind of change in your life—whether good or bad—may trigger stress. Certain life events may be very stressful. These include getting divorced (or getting married), having a baby, losing a loved one or retiring from work. Each person’s reaction to stress may be different. Some events that you may find stressful may not be stressful to someone else.
Once you are aware of what triggers your stress and recognize the symptoms of stress, you can start using stress management strategies. In fact, many experts believe that the way in which people deal with stress may be more important than the number or type of stressful situations they face.
Although a little stress isn’t harmful, persistent, long-term stress can raise your risk for illnesses, including obesity, heart disease and certain cancers. Long-term stress can cause digestive problems and weaken your immune system.
Symptoms of stress include feelings of anxiety, back pain, headaches, sleep problems, upset stomach, and constipation or diarrhea.
Minimizing Stress
Here are some tips for dealing with common stressful situations.
- Be realistic. Don’t take on more responsibility than you can or should handle. If you feel overwhelmed, say NO to any activity that is not absolutely necessary. Ask yourself, “What really needs to be done?” How much can I do?
- Don’t try for perfection. No one is perfect, so don’t expect perfection from yourself or others. Ask for help if you need it.
- Take one thing at a time. Tension or stress can make an ordinary workload seem unbearable. One way to cope with the feeling of being overwhelmed is to take just one task at a time. Pick the most urgent one and work on it. Once you accomplish it, choose the next one.
- Take time out for yourself. Meditation, regular exercise, good nutrition, and sharing your feelings with friends can help you cope with stressful situations.
- Realize that you can’t control everything. What you can’t control, don’t worry about.
- Plan ahead for stressful events. If you need to give a speech, for instance, give yourself time to prepare for it.
- Approach changes in your life as challenges or opportunities instead of threats.
- Exercise most days of the week. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day.
- Get enough sleep.
- Follow a healthy diet.
- Get involved in hobbies or social events that are pleasurable.