Unfortunately, our modern world presents many stress triggers for us to deal with daily. While we have more conveniences than people did in the old days, they come with a price. We work more hours to afford a higher quality of life, and therefore, our stress increases. Along with work, we must juggle other aspects of life such as family, friends, chores, and bills.

It seems as though most of us don’t have any time left over for ourselves at the end of the day. How can we handle all of this stress, so it doesn’t overpower us? Knowing our stress triggers can help us mitigate the challenges of daily life and sail smoothly over the waves. Even if life feels overwhelming sometimes, solutions can present themselves in surprising ways if we learn to look within.

Stress isn’t always a bad thing, but it can wreak havoc on our nervous systems in the long-term. Chronic stress affects millions of adults in today’s world, and sadly, it only seems to be getting worse. The American Psychological Association calls stress a “national mental health crisis,” saying that many factors contribute to it. Along with distress about jobs, healthcare, climate change, and uncertainty about the future, the pandemic has greatly exacerbated people’s stress levels.

While we can’t control the world around us, we can choose how to react to situations. By remaining calm within, it can help us navigate the world much easier. As the quote says: “Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you and weigh you down.”

Finding out your stress triggers

This 5-minute quiz by Psychology Today can help you learn what triggers your stress response. This way, you can better handle the situations life throws at you by preparing ahead. For instance, if you find that work causes you distress, write down a list of your triggers. Does a negative coworker bring you down? Does your workload seem like more than you can handle?

By simply becoming aware of our stress source, we can learn coping skills to stay on top of it. We can’t always remove the stress from our lives, but we can learn effective ways of managing it. Oftentimes, it isn’t a particular situation that causes negative feelings but our reaction to it. Choosing to approach life with evenmindedness and non-attachment can help alleviate stress and negativity.

However, it would be best to analyze what stress you can eliminate or lessen in your life. For example, if your job causes you undue tension and anxiety, perhaps look for something else in your field. Or, if a coworker or your boss makes you feel uneasy, don’t hesitate to talk with them. They may not know how their energy affects other people, so talking gently with them may help.

Once you find out what triggers you, write down possible solutions to your problems. You can use the example above or come up with your own strategies to mitigate stress. Your main stress may not come from work at all, although that’s the most common source, according to studies. Perhaps family life, chores, or your spouse causes you the most distress.

Most of the time, having a heart-to-heart with those closest to you can solve the issues. The people around you should help lessen your stress, not add to it. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from those who care most about you.