How to Handle Stress We all have stress — at work, at home, and on the road. Sometimes we can feel especially stressed because of a bad interaction with someone, too much work, or everyday hassles like getting stuck in traffic. Negative stress can keep you from feeling and performing your best — mentally, physically and emotionally. But no one’s life is completely stress-free. It’s important to know how to manage the stress in your life. What is Stress? Stress can be defined as a response of the body to any demand placed on it. Stress can be influenced by both external and internal factors. Examples of external factors include work, relationships, and finances. Internal factors such as health, hunger, and amount of sleep can affect how people deal with situations in which they might otherwise have dealt competently. Stress is a normal human experience and c...