These days, we all live in a high or higher stress environment, work, home, kids and life all add to your stress levels  According to socialworkers.org 80% of social workers believes stress is a major factor at work. 

The stressors are endless. Over time, excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and seriously impact your physical and emotional health. And your ability to properly deal with it can mean the difference between success or failure.

Finding ways to manage your stress isn’t about making radical changes or rethinking your career goals, but rather about focusing on the one thing that you can control: YOU. Theoretically, you should always be in control of yourself. Many can’t. The pressure builds to a point where everything goes awry. So, before this happens to you, you need to reevaluate your plan to mitigate your stress and stressor responses.

While most have learned to “deal with it”, some “just bury it”. Your emotions are contagious, and stress has an impact on the quality of your interactions with others. The better you are at managing your own stress, the more you'll positively affect those around you, and the less other people's stress will negatively affect you.

Follow these steps to help you better manage your responses to stress:

• Start by taking an inventory of yourself, home life and work life.
• How does stress effect you and relationships?
• What is your “go to response”? Anger, yelling, negative attitudes, seclusion or pretending everything is ok?
• Options for better handling your stressors:
• Regular physical activity and exercise will provide an outlet for stress reduction.
• Monitor your alcohol and nicotine intake…
• Learning better communication skills will improve your relationships.
• Keep a journal, learn about yourself.