Navigating Stress as a Natural Part of Life

Stress is a natural part of life.

Stress can come at us any time of the day, just through normal daily activities. It happened to me just before I sat down to write this blog. I was all ready and then needed to do a minor domestic chore to be more organised, and this chore became more extensive as I started to do it. Do you know the type? You begin to wipe down a bit of evident mess, then you realise there is a bigger mess, and then something else shows up, and before you know it, what was a 1-minute task becomes 20 minutes, and you have cleaned out a whole cupboard! It was annoying and frustrating, though on the scale of stresses relatively minor. I could have reacted and thought, I will do it later. Or I could respond resourcefully and do the required task, knowing that I would not have to return to it later. The 20 minutes did not make a difference to my blog; it gave me a story!

Stress is inevitable, and often, it is a good thing because it can inspire us to act and be motivated to solve the thing causing it or to create change. Stress also helps us meet our daily challenges and encourages us to reach our goals, ultimately making us happier and healthier. That’s right. Good stress is vital for a healthy life.

According to an article by Elizabeth Scott, PhD, author of '8 Keys to Stress Management', not all stress is the same. Some of the stress you face can harm your well-being, and some types can be healthy. One type of beneficial stress is known as eustress.

Eustress refers to stress that leads to a positive response. It is the opposite of distress and can refer to any beneficial physical or psychological stress. It tends to be short-term and often feels exciting. People perceive this type of stress as manageable and even motivating. This type of stress has no threat or fear; it is short-term focused energy and enhances performance. Hence, I now have a clean cupboard under my sink! As Maureen Killoran reminds us, “Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response to what happens and response is something we choose.”

Bad stress, however, is the kind that wears you out, leaves you jittery and is harmful to your health. Bad stress or distress can lead to anxiety, confusion, poor concentration, and decreased performance. This is often the type of stress experienced in the workplace and can occur from a variety of factors, such as:

Job demands can include high workloads and having to juggle multiple tasks. Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work can be a significant stressor.

Feeling like you have little control over your work or decision-making processes. If you are an employee, micromanagement or rigid organisational structures can exacerbate this feeling. If you are a business owner, then poor planning can increase stress.

Unclear job expectations or conflicting roles can create stress. When employees or business owners are unsure about their priorities or responsibilities, it can lead to anxiety and frustration.

Poor work-life balance or harmony where work demands encroach on personal time and feel like there needs to be more flexibility to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.

Interpersonal conflicts or complex relationships with co-workers, colleagues or managers can create a hostile environment that negatively impacts well-being.

Feeling unsupported or not having access to resources and training needed to perform your role or carry out the required tasks effectively can contribute to stress.

Uncertainty about the future can undermine our sense of security and well-being. Lack of career direction or development opportunities often exacerbates this.

So, what can we do about it? Understanding stress, particularly bad stress, is the starting point, as well as knowing how to reduce it, especially in work life. A happy work life often influences a happy personal life. Being able to explore your stress reactions and how to navigate them can leave you feeling more in control. Learning some practical strategies to manage work-related stress is a great place to start. Here are a few tips:

Tip #1 - Eliminate stress where you can. 

Learning to say “no” more often, reducing your to-do list, and avoiding people who stress you out are great places to start.

Tip #2 - Focus on what you can control. 

There are things in life beyond your control, such as someone else’s behaviour. Instead of stressing over what you can’t control, focus on what you can control, what is within your circle of influence  and how you can respond to a situation.

Tip #3 - Think positive thoughts. 

A positive attitude can help offset difficult situations, so try to think positively by looking for the upside in every situation; thinking about everything you appreciate in your life, including your positive qualities, can change your perspective.

Tip #4 - Adopt relaxation techniques. 

Relaxation promotes overall health and lets you step away and clear your head. It doesn’t have to be a long commitment; 10 minutes daily with deep breathing exercises and meditation will make a big difference.

Tip #5 - Stay healthy. 

A well-balanced diet and staying active ensures your body is better prepared to fight stress. Getting enough rest gives your body time to recover from stressful events and sets you up to fight new challenges the next day.

The key is identifying good stress from bad stress. If your stress is not chronic, stress can be a positive addition to your life. Make an effort to reduce your chronic stress as much as possible, which may also mean being able to talk about it with family and friends or turning to a professional for support. Expressing how you feel can be cathartic, compared to hiding the stressors, which can worsen situations. Adding positive activities to promote good stress can create a healthy balance, greater harmony, and quality of life.

If you want to learn more about stress and strategies to manage it, join us for the next Leadership Training, ‘Strategies for Managing Stress as Business Leaders’ with special guest Erin Todd, Health and Performance Coach.