Useful tips on how to manage everyday stress

The fast pace of everyday life and the increasing demands that are constantly created can be stressful. At first it may seem difficult to manage the stress, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

Besides, some research highlights how stress to some extent motivates you to achieve your goals, work harder, or persist in completing  a difficult task.

Sometimes, though, stress reaches an unhealthy level, which can prevent you from functioning properly and achieving your goals. Health, efficiency in any job, as well as your social and personal life can be negatively affected when stress in increased excessively. This is because stress can influence your mood and judgment. It can also weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to various diseases.

Long-term stress can lead to or deteriorate serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, digestive problems, depression, etc. It is therefore important to manage stress in order to prevent negative factors and their consequences.

Some advice:

• Watch for signs of excessive stress: Symptoms of excessive stress can be physical, emotional, mental or even behavioral. Although everyone is different, some common symptoms are: memory problems, difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, irritability, anger, sadness, headaches, frequent colds, changes in sleep or appetite.
• Know what makes you stressed: Certain people, places or situations can cause you high levels of stress. Think about what is causing you stress and try to focus on potential solutions.
• Exercise: All forms of exercise reduce stress hormones, flood the body with mood-enhancing endorphins, boost energy and provide a healthy distraction from dilemmas. Plus, exercise can make you less prone to stress over time.
• Relax: It's impossible to eliminate stress from your life, but you can control how you react to it. Relaxation techniques are a huge help as they boost mood and fight illness. Try a variety of techniques such as: yoga, breathing exercises and meditation, find what works for you and incorporate it into your daily routine.
• Manage your time properly: Time may seem like a luxury, but there are several ways to manage it effectively. Write down all the tasks of the day and organize your schedule.
• Be realistic: Try not to overestimate your endurance by overloading your schedule and only take on as much as you can.
• Ask for help: If you feel stressed, ask someone you trust to help you.