External exasperations

External stressors are events and situations that happen to you. Some examples of external stressors include:

• Major life changes. These changes can be positive, such as a new marriage, a planned pregnancy, a promotion or a new house. Or they can be negative, such as the death of a loved one, an illness or a divorce.
• Environment. The input from the world around you can be a source of stress. Consider how you react to sudden noises, such as a barking dog, or how you react to a bright sunlit room or a dark room. Or think about if you feel more stressed in crowds or in traffic during rush hour.
• Unpredictable events. Out of the blue, uninvited houseguests arrive. Or you discover your rent has gone up or that your pay has been cut.
• Workplace. Common stressors at work include an impossible workload, endless emails, urgent deadlines and a demanding boss. Or some people may feel extra stress with their work schedules and demands if they work from home. Or they may feel stress from having too many videoconference meetings.
• Social. Meeting new people can be stressful. Just think about going on a blind date, and you probably start to sweat. Relationships with family often spawn stress as well. Consider your last fight with your partner or child.
• Traumatic events. Some people may experience very stressful events such as war, accidents, natural disasters or assaults.

Strategies to manage external stressors include lifestyle factors such as eating a healthy diet, being physically active and getting enough sleep — which help boost your resiliency. Other helpful steps include asking for help from others, using humor, learning to be assertive, and practicing problem-solving and time management. Consider how you use your time and energy by focusing on activities that are important to you, paring down the number of activities you're involved in and saying no to new commitments. Find times to unplug, turn off your phone and be unavailable.