Stress Management Article

Life keeps throwing stress at us, one way or another. This stress management article should help you deal with the top ten stressors by first identifying them and suggesting ways to deal with the stress in your life.

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Top 10 Stressors - Causes of Stress

Prevention Magazine once published the following stressors as the 10 most important stress factors affecting people's life.

• 1. Personal Finances. When you don't have money to pay your bills, life isn't fun anymore. But believe it or not, even wealthy people still have personal finances as their top stress factor! No stress management article will contradict this fact: no matter how much money you make, you have to remember to live within your means. Start budgeting if you aren't already. Pay off all your credit cards and start saving for retirement. It's OK not to have the latest technology, the newest car on the block or the latest fashion.
• 2. Career. Whether you're single, married, with or without children, your career and/or your partner's career can be a huge source of stress. Will your career path lead you to where you want to be? Who can take care of the children if you are both career people? No one can answer these questions for you, but you should reflect on where you are and where you want to be. If you're not on the right track, it may be time to make some changes. Don't hesitate to read a stress management article that is more closely related to work issues.

3. Too Many Responsibilities. Who doesn't have that problem? Because companies are always looking at their bottom line, that means that there are fewer employees and each of them now have more responsibilities. You can try making a list of all the things you have to do and break them down into smaller, more achievable bite-size responsibilities. For example, if you have a large project due in 6 months, break it down into smaller tasks and assign a specific date for each of these tasks.

• 4. Marriage. If you're in one, then there will always be the communication, sex and family problems, etc. If you're not in one, society (and/or your family) may pressure you to get married. Keep in mind that you made vows and need to stick to them, especially if children are involved. Yes, it is important to communicate but sometimes, all you need to improve your relationship is to spend some time apart from each other.
  
  No, this stress management article is not telling you to have an affair... It is saying that you may need to make your own friends and spend some time away from your significant other. You can join a women's fitness club or attend an evening class once a week, etc.
• 5. Health. Health will always be a stress factor for all of us. Even if you are healthy, you can worry about the health of your relatives and/or friends. But one thing you can do is eat a healthy diet and exercise (and try to convince your friends and family to join you in leading a healthier lifestyle).

6. Children. If you have children, you probably worry about them. You worry about what they eat, what they do, who they hang out with, etc. If you don't have children, you may be stressing out about having one before it's too late. Once again, communication with your children and/or partner may be a good way to reduce stress. At one time or another, you will have to push the little chick out of the nest so that it can learn to fly on its own... 7. Loneliness. For all those single people out there, being lonely can be a major source of stress. Unfortunately, loneliness can also affect people in relationships. You can try to meet new people through clubs and organizations that you care about. Why not volunteering for a good cause? Don't hesitate to turn off the TV and computer and head out in the real world.

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• 8. Sex. Whether it's a lack of sex, excess of sex or uncertainty about your skills, sex will always remain a stressful subject for some. You could be trying to conceive but in vain or you could be using sex to convince yourself that the relationship is working, although it isn't... Normally, it takes 2 people to have it, so communicate with your partner and be open about how you feel.
• 9. Relatives. I'm sure that this stress management article will not be the first to state the obvious. You are born into a family, and you will probably not love them all the same. Feuds are common in families and you have to learn to live with everyone. If a specific relative is a significant cause of stress for you, can you reduce the time you spend with this relative? Have you tried to talk to him/her about what is troubling you?
• 10. Neighbors. Neighbors are similar to a family, except that you will always have the option of moving and starting over. Acknowledge it, nobody can get along with everybody, no matter how hard you try. If you've tried your best and your relationship with your neighbor is still stressing you out, would moving to a new location reduce this stress? Would ignoring the neighbor reduce stress? Would minimizing contact with him/her work?

Other Stress Management Articles

To summarize this stress management article, stress factors are in every aspect of our live, but YOU decide on the level at which it affects you. There might be easier ways, there might not. An increase or decrease in communication may be the answer. You could read every stress management article that is available to you, but in the end, you and you alone need to discover the answers.

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You can also learn how to deal with stress by reading these other stress management articles:

• Stress Management Tips
• Stress Related Symptoms
• Stress Relaxation Exercise
• Learn How to Relieve Stress
• Stress Relief Techniques for Technology-Related Stress
• Manage Your Stress With Alternate Responses
• Stress Side Effects
• Discover The Major Cause of Stress In Your Life

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