Awareness may be the key to having less stress. That sounds simple, but it is true. Half of the battle in reducing stress may be increasing our awareness of how we react to people and situations.
What kind of stress do you experience on a daily basis? Almost anything in your environment can trigger stress, but did you know that there are at least 7 common stressors that go unnoticed every waking day! Consider the following common stressors:
Common Stressor #1. Your Workplace. Do you have a disorganized boss, or a co-worker who you can’t get along with? Or perhaps your subordinates are unreliable, lazy or deceitful. If it isn’t the people at work, it’s the threat of downsizing, cutbacks, merger, take-over, acquisition, etc.
Common Stressor #2. Your Home. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, you may feel that your dreams and aspirations have fallen by the wayside. Your total focus has become cooking, cleaning, and caring for your children and spouse. There may be little or no time left for just you.
Common Stressor # 3. Poor Relationships. It is stressful to have conflicts between you and your spouse, children, relatives or friends.
Common Stressor #4. Poor Nutrition. Do you eat fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis? Do you take vitamins? If not, your body is not getting the vital nutrients that it needs to survive and thrive. Your body may be suffering from nutritional stress. If you improve your eating habits, you will have more energy and feel better during the day.
Common Stressor #5. Overeating. Eating too much or the wrong foods puts a strain on your heart. We are what you eat, drink, breathe, think, say, and do. Many people over-fuel their body. They eat too much, and their lifespan is shortened because of it.
Common Stressor #6. Dehydration. Do you drink eight glasses of water every day? If you don’t drink enough water, your body will be physically stressed and susceptible to disease. Our body is made up of over 70% water. Water plays an important part in nearly every body function, from circulation to digestion to elimination.
Common Stressor #7. Chemical Substances. Do you smoke, drink alcohol or take medicine? This can put physical stress on your liver, lungs and kidneys. There are many things in our lives that trigger stress. It is important to be aware of our people, circumstances and situations, as well as what we eat and drink…. all of these things can cause stress in our lives.
Sometimes we get all worked up, and may not realize that stress has gotten a hold of us. Awareness may be the first step in putting things into perspective. Take time today to recognize stress in your life.
When you recognize stress, you’ll be better prepared to respond to it and to get rid of it.
Other Articles You Might Like:
