Stress Management: 6 Causes You Should Avoid
Stress can be caused by several factors, one of which is work. According to WebMD, around 40% of worker in the Unites States experience office stress, while a quarter say the biggest source of stress in their lives is work.
Another factor is personal life stress, such as divorce or a death in the family. Stress can also be caused by changes in life, attitudes, fear, and unrealistic expectations, says WebMD.
Stress, however, is normal in life as it activates the body's 'fight or flight' reflex. Although, too much stress can lead to serious health problems, such as depression or heart disease, reports WebMD
Below are six sources of stress that should be avoided.
#1: Everyday Annoyances
As the saying goes, "Don't sweat the small stuff." There are some little annoyances in life that are better left alone, reports Health. Ken Yeager, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center states, "Sometimes you need to take a step back and realize that you're doing the best you can given the circumstance."
#2: Mixing Business with Pleasure
Whole Living suggests that people should set boundaries between business and pleasure. Focus on one at a time and do not mix them together.
#3: Digital Devices
WebMD states that digital devices can make real-life interactions difficult if a person spends too much time virtually socializing. Technology also keeps a person updated with work and new tasks to be done adding to stress.
#4: Constant Caregiving
47% of participants in a 2009 survey by Stress in America revealed their stress was caused by "problems affecting my family." Whole Living believes that people should give themselves time to address their own emotional and physical needs, while taking care of a loved one.
#5: Taking On Too Much
According to Whole Living, accepting extra work or chores from friends and family could place a person on the "fast track to a meltdown." Think before accepting any additional tasks if your plate is already full.
#6: Social Media
Health reports about a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, which focuses on social media. According to the report, "[Social media] can make you aware of stressful situations in your friends' lives, which in turn can add more stress to your life." Social media is also linked to negative body image and prolonged break-up pain, states Health.