Our Comprehensive Guide To Managing Stress

Learn our best expert-approved tips for managing stress.

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Sure, stress is an inevitable part of life. But the problem comes when it’s no longer a passing feeling, but occurs regularly, hurting your mental and physical health. Stress might result from work, finances, specific people, school, and more. 

Here at Charlie Health, we know how debilitating stress can be and offer resources for dealing with all kinds of stressors. No matter what’s challenging you, we hope to provide accessible options for coping with it and feeling your best. 

Read on for Charlie Health’s comprehensive guide to managing stress.

How to manage work stress

Work can be a tremendous source of stress due to everything from unrealistic expectations to challenging managers. It can bring symptoms such as headaches, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and increased substance use. But there are steps you can take to manage stress at work. Start by thinking about your main stressors in the workplace and set realistic tasks for yourself, breaking down big ones. Then take steps, when you can to improve your circumstances. These could look like setting boundaries (such as not responding to messages after hours), taking regular breaks, speaking to a mentor, and advocating for yourself. 

Learn more about how to manage stress at work here. 

How to manage stress at school 

School — whether it’s high school or college — can be an exciting place filled with learning, growing, and discovering who you are. But college can also bring stress about grades, academic pressure, an overpacked schedule, and challenges of being away from home for the first time — to name just a few stressors. Coping with school stress can involve identifying the main sources of your stress, taking breaks, learning better time-management, and creating a self-care routine that works for you. 

Learn more about how to manage stress at school here and here. 

How to manage stress around the holidays

The holidays can be a challenging time, bringing family expectations, financial strains, and missing loved ones who are no longer around. Coping with stress at the holidays can feel challenging, but there are steps you can take to improve your well-being during this time of year. These techniques include setting realistic expectations, not comparing your situation with others, setting boundaries, and having honest conversations with your loved ones. 

Learn more about how to manage stress around the holidays here. 

How to manage stress related to difficult people

You can’t always control who you interact with, and sometimes difficult people — from co-workers to family members — can cause additional stress. However, there are many ways you can cope with stress from difficult people and, ideally, limit your interactions with them. Try things like taking a step back from interacting with them, consider what makes them feel difficult to interact with, and set boundaries with them as much as you can. Remember that difficult behavior is on them and do your best not to take it personally. 

Learn more about how to manage stress from difficult people here.

How to manage stress from the news

The news can be overwhelming even on a light day. But with so many difficulties occurring across the world, it can have the power to sink moods. Being informed is important, but it is equally important to be mindful of how we absorb the news so that we are not constantly overwhelmed with stress and despair.  You can reduce stress from the news by not reading it first thing when you wake up, taking  time to process what you read, focusing  on what you can control, and seeking  out positive news. 

Learn more about how to manage stress around the news here.  

How to manage stress from compassion fatigue

Working in the medical profession, as a caregiver, or in any other profession in which you’re exposed to suffering or trauma can cause compassion fatigue. These experiences might cause you symptoms such as emotional numbness, hopelessness, mental and physical exhaustion, digestive problems, and irritability. Coping with stress from compassion fatigue can involve setting clear boundaries, sharing responsibilities where possible, practicing self-care, and creating a support group with other people having similar experiences. 

Learn more about how to manage stress from compassion fatigue here. 

How to manage financial stress

You might experience financial stress or anxiety due to factors such as debt, an unexpected expense, job insecurity, or a lack of savings. It might lead to avoidant behaviors around finances or exhibiting extreme frugality. This experience can impact your physical and mental well-being, with symptoms such as persistent worry, headaches, and hopelessness. Coping with financial stress — and even removing its sources — is possible, with techniques such as creating a realistic budget, building an emergency fund, systematically paying off debt, and educating yourself about finances. The latter might come through speaking with a finance expert or exploring reputable online resources. 

Learn more about how to manage financial stress here. 

How to manage general stress

Stress can come from so many different causes and present in a myriad of ways. Learning general coping techniques for stress can help you deal with it throughout your life, especially when a mixture of things is  to blame for it. Some of the many things you can do to reduce general stress include moving your body, getting enough sleep, doing daily mindfulness exercises, and getting support from a mental health professional. 

Learn more about how to manage general stress here. 

How Charlie Health can help 

If you or a loved one is struggling with your mental health, Charlie Health can help. Charlie Health is a virtual behavioral health provider delivering high-acuity treatment for kids, teens, and adults facing serious mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Our innovative treatment model combines clinical expertise, group connection, and measurement-based care to support long-term healing. With the right support, managing your mental health and relationships is possible. Fill out the form below to start healing today.