We all have to deal with stress – and some of us have more to deal with than others. Being able to recognize and manage your stressors is critical if you want to keep your mental health intact – so what are the biggest sources of stress in your life, and what are the best ways to relieve and process that resulting stress?

Effective Stress Management Techniques

There are many stress management techniques worth using, and the best techniques will depend on the exact nature and severity of the stressor at hand. That’s why it’s so important to better understand how and why you’re getting stressed; proper analysis of these factors can lead you to the right combination of stress management tactics.

These are some of the most commonly employed groups of tactics:

•         Direct reduction. If one source of stress is particularly devastating for you, consider directly reducing its impact. This isn’t always an available option, but it can be extremely effective. For example, if your job is stressing you out, you can work fewer hours. If you’re feeling stressed by too many social obligations, you can cut back.
•         Mitigation of effects. You may also be able to mitigate the effects of some of your stressors by delegating, getting help, or somehow distributing the stress in a better way. For example, you can split responsibilities with your housemates or invest in better security in a dangerous environment.
•         Processing and coping. In many situations, the best course of action is to process and cope with your stress using targeted strategies. Journaling, exercising, and enjoying some of your favorite media are just a few options here.
•         Recreation, rest, and relaxation. Of course, you can also enjoy yourself, rest, and relax in whatever ways are most appealing to you. For example, if you have an outdoor kitchen at home, you can cook outside with some close friends and enjoy the great outdoors.

The Biggest Sources Of Stress

These are some of the biggest sources of stress that people deal with:

1.     Work/school. Most people would agree that work or school is the biggest and most stressful force in their life. We spend 40 hours or more working or going to school every week, and we must contend with many challenging variables in this course. Obviously, some jobs are more stressful than others, but almost everyone can feel the burden of weighty responsibilities, difficult coworkers, and the financial pressure to stay working.
2.     Health issues. One of the only things capable of dwarfing stress related to work is stress related to health issues, either in yourself or a family member. If you’re struggling with an illness, a condition, or anything that prevents you from operating at peak physical condition, it can make everything in your life seem even more stressful.
3.     Family issues. You probably love your family, but that doesn’t mean they’re not a recurring source of stress. Maintaining good relationships with family members is sometimes demanding, and it’s always time-consuming. If you’re currently having an argument or disagreement with a family member, it can make your life at home quite challenging, even though your home environment should be restful and relaxing.
4.     Housing and money concerns. If you’re currently dealing with a lack of funds or if you’re otherwise concerned about money or housing, it can occupy your mind and prevent you from being able to live a peaceful life. Unfortunately, these can be difficult problems to solve or mitigate.
5.     Dangerous or threatening environments. For some people, stress comes from dangerous or threatening environments. Areas with high crime, and specific types of locations like prisons can introduce a looming cloud of stress that lingers over everyone all the time.
6.     Big life changes. Most of the items on this list are things we experience almost constantly, as a background part of life. But we also need to acknowledge big life changes, such as moving, marrying, divorcing, having children, or switching to a new career. These major life changes can bear a huge impact on your level of stress and in areas far beyond where they immediately apply.
7.     Everyday tasks. Even our simplest everyday responsibilities can be sources of stress under certain circumstances. For example, you may feel exceptionally stressed driving to work in traffic.

You may deal with stress from some or all of these categories, and you may have even more sources of stress that we haven’t even mentioned. In any case, there are myriad stress management techniques and strategies you can incorporate into your life to not only reduce the stress you have to deal with but better cope with the stress you inevitably experience.