In the fast-paced, interconnected world of the 21st century, stress has become an omnipresent aspect of daily life. From the demands of work and school to the pressures of social expectations and technological advancements, individuals are constantly navigating a myriad of stressors.

Around 206 BCE, during the Han Dynasty, the story goes that warriors in China used to hold and crush walnuts in order to stay focused in battles. During the Ming dynasty, Baoding balls (named after the city where they were first created) came into play. These were balls, mostly made of iron, rhythmically rolled in the hand, purportedly to relieve stress.

Later in 1988, when television writer Alex Carswell was having a bad day, he let out his frustration by throwing his writing instrument on a picture frame (that happened to be of his mother), resulting in property damage. After going through this, Carswell realised that there was a need for a tool that could help people push out the stress they were going through. He thus patented the modern stress ball, a squeezable blue ball made of polyurethane. Today, it is a silent and softer version available in various colours, shapes, and sizes.

We all have used this ‘smiley ball’ at some point in our lives. Haven’t we?

Stress is something that almost every working professional faces. So now the question is "How do I manage stress and make sure that it doesn't affect other aspects of my life?" So first, let's take a deep dive into some significant aspects of stress and how it can affect you.

Are Stress and Anxiety the same?

Stress and anxiety have very similar symptoms like trouble sleeping, headaches, restlessness, anger, irritability, and more. But there is a major difference between these two terms that are often used interchangeably. Stress arises as a result of a specific trigger that could be identified immediately. For example, if you have an upcoming presentation at work, you might be stressed about it, but it goes away once you finish the presentation. Anxiety may present itself in your body, with a sense of unease that can’t be assigned to a specific event. It is possible for stress to cause anxiety, for example, if you are considering a change in your life, anxiety might come along with the stress that the change brings you.

Signs of Stress

Unlike other illnesses, stress often doesn't show up with very obvious symptoms. Symptoms of stress can be something as small as being indecisive, which is something that most of us just ignore. Other signs of stress include fatigue, frequent headaches, inability to eat well or eat a lot more than usual, avoiding people, feeling hopeless, and more. One major clue that you might be experiencing stress is snapping at people when you usually have a much calmer demeanour.

Does Stress Affect the Body Physically?

The APA (American Psychological Association) says "Stress affects all systems of the body including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems." So yes, stress does affect you mentally as well as physically. But there is no need to be afraid of stress, because, as complex as it is, there are also simple ways to avoid and manage stress.

Work Stress and Other Aspects of Life

You might be thinking, "It's just work stress, how will it affect my personal life?". Work stress does affect your life more than you realise.

For example, have you snapped at your child because you had a stressful day at work? Have you skipped a family event because of an incomplete project? These are all seemingly small things that we don't pay a lot of attention to, but they are all examples of how work stress affects other aspects of your life, which is why it's vital to manage and avoid stress as much as possible.

How to Manage Stress?

The first and most important thing when it comes to managing stress is to identify and label it because when you can label a problem, it also means that there is a solution for it.

How Can You Avoid Stress?

While quick relief techniques are effective, they are, as the name suggests, quick and short-term solutions. To avoid stress in the long term, here are a few strategies

• Plan your day

A lot of the stress you feel might be because you don't have a plan and you have a lot to do on that particular day. So, if you have a set plan, it will be easier for you to complete tasks and manage your time effectively, which in turn leads to less stress.

• Prioritise alone time

Some of us are workaholics, we just love to work. That can stress you out at times, so it's always good to carve out time for yourself to do your favourite things. Doing this gives you the perfect balance between work and your personal life.

• Ask for help when you need it

We often feel ashamed to ask for help and tend to take on the weight of the world on our shoulders, and that can be very stressful. So asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of. It takes a massive weight off your shoulders, and makes you more relaxed.

• Saying "No"

In the workspace, we find it difficult to say “no,” especially when we know that we don’t have the bandwidth. Here is a tip to communicate effectively in such situations. Say a coworker requests some help on a project that is low on priority, let them know the things on your plate at the moment, and ask for a fair timeline to take up the request. This can save you from additional stress in the workplace.

• Proper sleep and diet

Most undervalued of all, a proper, balanced diet and a good night's sleep also work wonders when it comes to avoiding stress.

Navigate through stress with Anyo:

Want to begin your stress management journey but don't know how? Here are some recommendations from Anyo:

• Yoga

Physical activity itself is great for reducing stress, but Yoga is a form of physical exercise that relaxes every part of your body and gives you a positive attitude to tackle the day ahead of you. Bonus point: Anyo has guided yoga sessions curated by trained yoga teachers. Anyo provides DIY routines curated by our in-house psychologist.

• Meditation

Meditating can be as simple as closing your eyes and breathing slowly as you clear your mind and it's a great way to calm down when you feel stressed.

• Sharing anonymously in a safe space

Sometimes talking to an understanding stranger can help as well. Anyo has a unique listeners’ corner where you can talk to people who are trained to offer you a non-judgmental listening ear.

• Doodling or colouring

This might seem like a children's activity, but these activities are very widely used by therapists to help people calm their minds, slow down, and relax by joining Anyo’s art therapy events on Saturdays. You can also do it yourself, and trust us, it doesn’t need formal training. Pull out a piece of paper and a pen, use some colours, and fill those pages away.

Selye coined the term “stress” in 1936 and also said that “It's not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” He notes that stress is simply a part of everyday life for each of us, but that we all respond to or experience stress differently from one another, and that negative reactions to stress can cause you more harm than stress itself.

Phew, what a ride! From the relentless demands of work to the constant barrage of notifications from our phones, we've seen just how stress has become an unavoidable companion in the modern world. But fear not, because, as daunting as it may seem, there's light at the end of the tunnel. Start your journey by downloading Anyo, join Anyo circles, a community built to discover expert curated routines to share,engage and discuss various techniques that worked for them for a mindful journey.

Back To Home