Stress... it's a word we've been taught to steer clear of since birth, but through the course of life and human experience, we find out that it's totally unavoidable. But here's the interesting thing... stress is actually necessary, so we've put together some tips on how you can decipher the good from the bad and manage the inevitable.
Contrary to popular belief, we all need some stress in our lives to move and function, which is why stress management is more important that stress elimination. In fact, finding the right balance between too much and too little stress is an essential part of your overall well-being.
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Good stress vs. bad stress and balancing the right amount
So, how much stress should you allow in your life before it becomes too much and what can you do to manage it all? Well, you must first understand that determining the right amount of stress can be tricky because it varies from person to person and is rooted in perception. For instance, riding on a roller coaster might be delightfully fun for one person, but terrifying for another; or having many demands on you at one time may make you feel energized, but may overwhelm someone else.
There are signs you can look for to help determine a stress level that's right for you and you can start by learning the difference between the good and the bad:
Good stress:
- Makes you feel motivated, inspired and focused on doing your best
- Gives you energy, ambition and enthusiasm
- Strengthens your immune system
Bad stress:
- Harms your health and well-being, causing symptoms such as headaches, stomach discomfort or insomnia
- Makes you feel frazzled, frustrated, upset, out of control or overwhelmed
- Makes even simple tasks become difficult or impossible to accomplish
At the end of the day, stress, in the form of good and bad challenges, helps us to flourish and grow. Do your best to take life one day at a time and you'll find yourself living healthier and happier in no time.
Managing the inevitable
Managing stress is all about taking charge of what you can control and learning to become flexible regarding the things you have no ability to influence or change. To manage stress when the demands stack up, be sure to identify the triggers that cause you stress and resolve to make realistic, healthy changes. To be successful in this, it's important that you:
- Get the right amount of sleep.
- Schedule time for relaxation each day.
- Eat a balanced, nutritious diet and exercise regularly.
- Cultivate supportive relationships.
- Have fun and try to laugh more. Laughter is a great stress reducer and has the added benefit of increasing social support.
Military OneSource can help
Military life has its stressful moments. In addition to the usual daily life stressors, there are multiple deployments, frequent moves and separations from family and friends that can increase the demands on your time and raise your stress level. To help you manage and move past those stressors, Military OneSource offers free confidential, non-medical counseling in person, by phone, via secure chat and by video. You can also partner with a Military OneSource health and wellness coach to design a vision for managing stress effectively. Call 800-342-9647 to learn more.
Remember, stress is necessary and can be good for you. Make sure you watch out for signs of both good and bad stress and know your triggers. It can only run your life if you let it, so continue to be the boss of you and live your life happy, healthy and whole.