Stress is a natural part of life; it affects everyone, from the busy mother to the CEO of a large corporation. Despite the fact that we can't control and rid our lives of all Stress, there are ways to effectively manage and deal with the stress we experience on a daily basis. This is where stress management plays a big role. Before going any deeper into answering the question "what is stress management?", it's important to have a basic understanding of stress.

Simply defined, stress is anything that upsets our balance. Some common responses to stress include tension in the body, irritability, rapid heartbeat, inability to concentrate, hyper-sensitivity, etc. The reactions to stressful situations may differ from person to person and may depend on the source of stress -- i.e. whether the stress was triggered by mental, emotional or physical strain.

Now that we know a little more about stress, let's talk about stress management. Broadly, stress management involves developing techniques and effective coping strategies that will help you deal with mental, emotional, and physical stress of any kind. Finding constructive ways to manage stress will help lessen the severity of your reaction to stressful situations. For example, if you know how to manage the stress you experience while at work, you may not get as frustrated or flustered when you encounter a similar situation next time.

Some examples of stress management techniques including breathing exercises to help calm your nerves and increase your ability to concentrate, engaging in enjoyable activities to take your mind off of stressful situations, and taking time out for yourself to relax. No matter what you decide to do, the overall goal is to develop techniques that are going to help you ease the burden of stress.

Stress management also encompasses reflecting on situations that cause you to feel stressed. Taking the time to carefully examine what occurred before, during and after the stressful episode will enable you to pinpoint the cause of stress. Once you are able to identify what is causing the stress, you will learn how to best handle that particular stressor in the future.

Over time, you will be able to identify the main stressors in your life and, in turn, will know which stress management techniques are most helpful to you. With this experience under your belt, you'll be able to focus more on living a peaceful and productive life instead of focusing on stress and anxiety.