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Manage stressors, not stress
Welcome to The Productivity Blueprint newsletter 🗞️
Last week we looked at 13 common cognitive biases that may be an influence in your everyday life, and how you can combat them. If you missed it, you can catch up here 🙂
Today, we will look at the difference between stress and stressors, and which you should be trying to manage 🤔
“Stress should be a powerful force, not an obstacle”
Let’s first look at the difference between stress and a stressor. Stress is the physical/mental response you get reacting to certain danger in your life. A stressor is the actual object/thing/person causing your stress. Usually, stress management gets rid of the surface issues, but it doesn’t deal with the root cause of your problems.
Although stress management techniques are not an issue themselves, Nick Wignall highlights that it’s the stress management mindset that proves problematic, as it causes people to depend on these techniques as a coping mechanism, in order to avoid taking action on the root of their stress.
If you find yourself chronically stressed (in a consistent form of feeling overwhelmed/anxious) it is likely time to acknowledge and focus your attention on the source of the stress. A great way to manage your stressor is to be firm and assertive with your actions. Keep the following tips in mind:
Set clear and firm boundaries with those around you
Prioritize good sleeping habits (or habits in general) for your body
Have uncomfortable (but needed) conversations with the people around you
In general, stress management techniques like therapy, spa days, mindfulness apps, are still great, but may be hurting you if you use them as a way to procrastinate doing the harder work of removing stressors in your life. In order to take care of stress in the long-term, you must find ways to fix your stressors.
TL/DR: Stress management techniques can alleviate surface-level symptoms of stress, but true relief requires addressing the root causes of stressors. Being assertive in setting boundaries and establishing healthy habits is crucial for long-term stress reduction and overall well-being.
đź’ˇ Challenge of the week
Identify one major source of stress in your life and develop a concrete action plan to address it. This week, focus on implementing one assertive strategy, such as setting clear boundaries or establishing a healthy routine, and track your progress.
That’s all for this newsletter! We hope you enjoyed exploring the difference between stress and stressors, and how to effectively manage them.
Until next week,
The Productivity Blueprint Team
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