Stress is the state of mental or emotional strain that affects physical as well as mental state of an individual. We all have faced stress in some ways or other, and of course, some of us have our own ways of coping with stress. But as they say, prevention is better than cure. So knowing some ways to keep off stress can help you in more ways than one. Stress and its Effects The causes of stress are plenty and the symptoms can be varied. Here is a list of effects of stress on health that you can look out for:

• Loss of appetite or anorexia
• Lack of interest
• Increased alcohol consumption
• Increased smoking
• Decreased libido
• Anger
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Food cravings
• Frequent crying
• Difficulty sleeping
• Feeling tired
• Difficulty concentrating

Now that you know the common effects of stress, let us take a look at how to avoid stress. Ways to Keep Off Stress at Work Relieving stress at work can be done in many different ways. Here are a few of them. Manage Your Time Time management is an essential requirement, if you are looking for effective ways to deal with stress. When you manage your time, most of your work gets completed effortlessly and this results in handling stress at work that you face at the end of each day or month. Time management can also help you to meet deadlines effectively. One important point to remember here is multitasking. Although, it helps to finish work fast; it may cause you more stress due to the dynamic thought process required. Therefore, it is wise to avoid it. Workout Exercises play an important role in maintaining our physical as well as mental health. If your work is such that you cannot go to a gym; you can try some workouts at home that are easy and can keep you in shape. There are some stress management exercises that you can perform, even at the desk. Chalk out a schedule and be regular in working out, as this will help you in the long run. Take a Break Taking a break from your regular schedule can help you a lot in stress relief. If you are looking for relaxation and entertainment, nothing can beat a vacation. Spend time with your family, friends and loved ones. Forget all about work and enjoy your break. Taking a break rejuvenates the spirit and makes you feel like a new person. Be positive Keeping a positive attitude can help you avoid stress to a great extent. If there is a problem with your colleagues, try to sort it out with a talk. If not, ignore it. Most of the time, a positive attitude can help sort out the problem faster and help in relieving stress in a better way. Ways to Prevent Stress during Pregnancy Having a baby is a life changing milestone in the mother's life. Along with happiness, pregnancy brings a huge responsibility on the to-be-mother's shoulders which can lead to stress. So, here are some of the ways to avoid stress that you can put to use.

• Take adequate rest - This is probably the easiest way to avoid stress.
• Exercise daily - Following the workout routine helps you strengthen the muscles. This in turn, helps in a stress free childbirth.
• Sleep on your side - Sleeping on the stomach or back can put pressure on your back bone or the muscles. Sleeping on the side, instead, makes sure that all the muscles get relaxed and this can reduce stress naturally.
• Have a prenatal massage - The massage helps relieve any tensed muscles and is an amazing way to relax.
• Eat healthy - Pregnancy comes with its dos and don'ts. Taking proper nutrition is necessary so that the child in your womb gets proper nourishment. Eat smaller meals instead of three large meals. This helps reduce stress on the digestive system as well as helps you to incorporate variety in your meal.
• Relaxation - Listening to soothing music and going for stress relief yoga and other stress relieving methods like massage and hot water baths work as great stress busters.

To conclude it all, if you do want to beat this stress monster eating up your life, you have to take control of your actions. Like Danzae Pace correctly said - Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.