Understand and Manage Stress
In my basic understanding, stress is more emotional than physical. A task may be physically demanding, but people can still enjoy doing it without stress. To put things in a distinctive perspective, stress is different from physical pain. Physical pain comes from muscle fatigue, but stress has to do with the emotional well-being of the subject. On the other hand, one can be stressed without engaging in physical activities. This distinctive nature differentiates stress from pain.
Since this difference has been established, what is stress, and what is the major cause of stress?
Stress is an emotional state caused by a lack of control over a situation as a result of inaction caused by uncertainty, NOT by the ability to execute. This definition implies that stress arises from the absence of asserted control due to ambivalence.
You only feel stressed when you know that there is some level of control you have over the prevailing condition but that you have not done enough about it. Once the situation is out of your control, stress is usually minimal, as the outcome is left to fate. In summary, stress results from inaction.
To handle stress properly, one must be open about the situation, identify the various actionable things that can be done, and execute them irrespective of the outcome. If the result is positive, you will be rewarded for your bravery. If the result is otherwise, you can say that you have done your best and played your part. The brain automatically derives rewards from actions, not mostly from results. The brain is stressed as a result of your action in a situation, and your subconscious mind keeps enacting to you the number of possible actions that you have to take control of the situation.
Taking control drives away stress and induces reward, which leads to a higher level of fulfillment and, consequentially, a better quality of life derived from satisfaction. Therefore, if you want it, go get it. If you get it, congratulations; if you fail, you will fail fast and live without regret; but if you do nothing about it, you will be filled with an emotion of regret and a subsequent level of stress and loss of confidence.
Here are some LinkedIn tags for managing stress:
StressManagement #MentalHealth #WorkLifeBalance #StressRelief #TimeManagement #SelfCare #Wellbeing #HealthyLifestyle #CopingStrategies #Mindfulness #StressReduction #Productivity #PersonalDevelopment #EmotionalWellness #WorkplaceWellness
