How To Harness Your Stress For Good

Can you harness your stress for good, or does it take charge of you? Sometimes there’s simply no way to hide from the stressors of everyday life. In fact, nearly half of all U.S. citizens report negative effects from the amount of stress in their lives.

Balancing your career with your personal life and reining in your stress level isn’t always easy, but you need to do it in order to live a happy, productive and sane life. Furthermore, overcoming such day-to-day stressors can actually increase success, both in your career and personal life.

Change Your Perception of Stress

For many people, the fear of speaking public is their worst phobia. However, those who are able to harness their stress levels may be able to overcome this fear. Not only can this enhance your public speaking ability, it can help win over some brand-new friends.

According to research at the University of Rochester, individuals who are able to change their perception of stress are able to better handle the task of speaking in public. This is also a great strategy for those who suffer from social anxiety disorder.

Reduce Stress Through Healthy Living

Exercising is a productive way to take your mind away from the stressors of everyday life. Not only does it keep your brain and body occupied with the task in front of you, those who are able to properly channel their stress into their exercise routine are likely to see increased performance.

Maintaining a healthy diet can also go a long way towards protecting and preserving your mental health, which can ultimately reduce the negative effects of stress and increase your coping skills. Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water per day, eating a full breakfast and consuming plenty of nuts, fruits and vegetables are all good ideas for those who are looking to improve their diet and lower their stress levels at the same time.

The Ill Effects of Long-Term Stress

If you cannot overcome your current level of stress, or if you experience frequent, long-term or prolonged stress, you may want to consider consulting with a professional. Apart from negatively affecting your happiness and productivity, too much stress can affect your health, too.

The health effects of stress can manifest in several different ways. Fatigue, headache, loss of appetite and even reduced sex drives have all been reported in those who suffer from too much stress. Less common symptoms of long-term or prolonged stress include a lack of energy or motivation, frequent bouts of anger and even some psychological effects. In fact, approximately 25 percent of all drug prescriptions in the U.S. are currently being used to treat stress.

Use Good Stress to Your Advantage

Believe it or not, some stresses can be considered positive or good. Certain stressors, such as those that come with impending job interviews, important tests or huge life changes, can serve as motivation to push forward. Taking advantage of good stress and overcoming negative stress is the key to achieving stability within your personal life as well as your career.

As you can see, stress can have a real impact on your career productivity or progression, your emotional state and even your physical health. Failure to seek treatment for serious stressors can be disastrous in the long run. Conversely, those who are able to come to terms with their stress levels can, in most cases, turn their mood around and live highly productive, happy lives.