Finding Balance: Managing 6 Types of Stress
I see you, the driven, overwhelmed professional trying to reduce stress and find balance. Adapting to constant change while maintaining high-quality work is exhausting. I’ve been there too. When life feels out of control, these six strategies can help reduce stress and improve your sense of agency.
Stress stems from our awareness of not having control over many situations. However, we can control our responses. Managing your stress reaction can reduce your stress levels and enhance mental wellness. To tackle the root of your stress, you must understand what influences your stress response.
Understanding Stress: Six Types and Their Impact
Stress involves reactions of tension and anxiety that tax the body and mind. Feeling as if life’s circumstances control you is counterproductive and drains your energy. Here are the six main types of stress and how to manage them:
Spiritual Stress: This occurs when actions make you question your values, purpose, goals, connections, or beliefs. It’s about alignment with your vision and values. Ask yourself big questions like, "What is my purpose?" and "Who am I?" If misalignment occurs, you might feel something is missing.
Mental Stress: This type emerges from multitasking, stretching yourself too thin, or facing conflicting demands. It’s influenced by your capacity to stay present and focused. Manage mental stress by getting more sleep, staying hydrated, making lists, practicing mindfulness, and being present.
Emotional Stress: Emotional stress happens when your needs, desires, or expectations aren’t met. Our emotions are indicators of our well-being. Instead of owning emotions, observe them. Acknowledge and accept emotions like fear, anger, frustration, or anxiety without judgment.
Physical Stress: Physical stress arises when your body cannot function optimally. Physical readiness and well-being influence your daily energy levels. You could be having the best day and then you stub your toe and it totally derails your focus. Ensure physical health by staying active and addressing any physical discomfort immediately.
Social Stress: This type involves the right amount of social interaction. Too much or too little interaction can drain your energy. Learn to say no, communicate boundaries, and limit social media to manage social stress effectively.
Environmental Stress: Environmental factors relate to your work setting and conditions. Temperature, lighting, noise, and clutter can all affect your stress levels. Change what you can in your environment, or adjust other stress types to mitigate environmental stress.
Practical Tips for Reducing Stress
When managing stress, it’s not the stressor but your response that matters. All types of stress are interconnected. Focusing on what you can control in one area can help reduce overall stress. Here are some practical tips:
Spiritual: Reflect on your values and purpose regularly.
Mental: Prioritize tasks and practice mindfulness.
Emotional: Allow yourself to experience and move through emotions.
Physical: Maintain physical health through exercise and self-care.
Social: Set boundaries and manage social interactions.
Environmental: Optimize your work environment for comfort.
By identifying what you can control and making small changes, you can significantly reduce your stress response.
Stay tuned for my next article, where we’ll discuss disciplines that create a long-term life philosophy, helping you experience less stress.
This article contains my interpretation of the copyrighted work of Bruce D Schneider and the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).