Is Stress Affecting Your Marriage and Career?
Discover Life-Changing Solutions Inside!
Do you ever feel like you’re being pulled in different directions by the demands of your work and your marriage, leaving you wondering how much longer you can keep everything together?
You come home exhausted, only to find that the little time you have with your family feels more like another task on your to-do list rather than the joy it used to be. And then there are those moments when you catch yourself getting irritated with your partner or kids, even when they haven’t done anything wrong.
Could it be that stress is silently taking a toll on your relationships, your health, and your happiness?
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and it’s time to take a closer look at how stress might be affecting every part of your life.
But before we dive into tools and strategies to cope with stress, let’s first understand some basic concepts about negative emotions that can help you overcome these mental challenges.
Emotions come from our thoughts: Emotions are just feedback, signalling whether your thoughts are supportive and uplifting or disempowering and destructive. Our thoughts create our emotions.
So, if you’re not feeling good, it means there are some underlying thoughts responsible for that negative emotion.
Thoughts are habitual: According to research, the average person has approximately 60,000 thoughts per day. But what’s truly concerning is that 75% of these thoughts are negative, and 95% are repetitive.
Did you get that?
Let me repeat it for you: 75% of these thoughts are negative, and 95% are repetitive.
Now, can you see why I said that our thoughts are habitual?
Just like we have habits of scrolling on social media, listening to music, or procrastinating, we also have the habit of thinking similar thoughts — both good and bad.
That’s why some people always seem relaxed, no matter how difficult the situation is, while others are often angry or stressed.
You might even know someone who is always stressed and worried.
Can you think of someone close to you like that? Maybe even someone reading this article?
The good news is, thinking habits and patterns can be changed.
Now, you might be thinking, “Oh, so I have this habit of thinking stressful thoughts,” or maybe you feel like screaming, “You have no idea what’s going on in my life! My challenges are real, not just thoughts. You don’t know how my spouse drives me crazy or how challenging my work is.”
I get it. You might be facing real challenges, or maybe your partner or employer is indeed making things difficult for you.
But here’s the key point: You can’t control what’s happening in your life, but you can control how you react to it, how you deal with it, and how you handle it.
“You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.” — Wayne Dyer
There was a time when I was in a job, and a colleague and I were given the same tasks. That same task used to worry me, but for him, it was like, “Okay, no big deal.”
Was he more talented than me? Not at all.
In fact, he was my junior.
But seeing him so calm and relaxed, I often thought he was careless, but he wasn’t. He just had better emotional control. His thoughts were more positive than mine.
Let me give you another example: Suppose there are two friends, and both of them fail an exam.
One might be very worried, thinking, “My future is over. I’ll never achieve anything in life.”
The other might think, “Okay, I failed this time, but I’ll reappear and clear it next time.”
This second friend is more relaxed, not as worried, though slightly disturbed. Can you see the difference?
If the situation had power, both students should feel the same way. But that’s not the case.
Now that you understand these basic concepts, let’s learn some powerful tools and strategies that can help you overcome stress.
Identify the Cause of Stress
Try to identify the root cause of your stress.
Ask yourself, “What is it that’s making me stressed?”
Is it work pressure?
Maybe your company has unrealistic expectations, or your sales targets are too high.
Perhaps your boss has handed you too many tasks at once, or you’re trying to juggle too many responsibilities at the same time.
Are you a working woman overwhelmed with balancing office work, household chores, taking care of kids, and everything else with no support?
Whatever it is, sit down and write it out. Think on paper. Don’t just try to find the reasons in your head — write them down.
Once you’ve identified the root cause of your stress, ask yourself, “What can I do to solve this problem?”
You’ll get one of two answers: “I can try this,” or “I can’t do anything about it.”
If the problem is something you can’t control, accept it.
There’s no use getting stressed over something beyond your control.
But if the problem causing your stress is something you can act on, take immediate action to solve it.
For example, if you’re a working woman overloaded with tasks, consider hiring a maid for household work.
If your workload is affecting your health, consider discussing it with your boss or looking for a different job.
Taking action in the right direction will start making you feel in control of the situation, and your stress will begin to fade.
Techniques to Reduce Stress
Before we dive into these techniques, remember: not all of them will work for everyone. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Try these techniques, see what works for you, and discard the ones that don’t.
Set Clear Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life:
Leave work at work and be fully present at home with your family. It sounds simple but can be challenging to apply.
However, learning to do this is essential. Otherwise, work will interfere with your personal life, affecting your relationships, or your personal life will affect your career.
Communicate Effectively With Your Spouse and Employer: Openly discuss your stress and needs with your spouse and employer.
Choose the right time and place for these conversations.
For your spouse, express your love and understanding for their needs while also sharing your own.
For your employer, be polite, respectful, and honest about the challenges you’re facing. Most employers appreciate the effort and are willing to support you if they see your dedication.
You can also Try These Relaxation Techniques to Beat Stress:
- Meditation: Spend a few minutes each day focusing on your breath or simply being present. This helps calm your mind and reduces stress.
- Breathing Exercises: Practice deep, slow breathing. It’s a quick way to relax and ease tension.
- Regular Exercise: Get into a routine of physical activity. Exercise boosts your mood and helps manage stress.
- Good Sleep: Make sure you get quality sleep each night. Proper rest is crucial for staying healthy and handling stress effectively.
Stress can slowly take over your life, hurting your health, straining your relationships, and affecting your work. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
By understanding how your thoughts and habits add to your stress, finding out what’s causing it, and taking steps to deal with it, you can take back control and live a happier, more balanced life.
With the right approach, you can handle stress more effectively and keep it from holding you back.
Don’t let stress keep running your life.
Take the first step towards a calmer, happier you.
Click here to schedule a free 1-on-1 call with me, and let’s work together to find the peace and balance you deserve.
