How to cope with 6 most stressful times of the day

There has been no definition of stress that everyone accepts. Therefore, it’s difficult to measure stress if there is no agreement on what the definition of stress should be.People have very different ideas with respect to their definition of stress. Probably the most common is, “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension”. Another popular definition of stress is, “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.

The Alarm Clock Buzz

No surprise that the very thing that jolts you unhappily awake elicits a stress response, driving up your heart rate and blood pressure by two to three points, according to Japanese research. In older people or those prone to heart problems, this sudden jarring can increase heart attack risk.

Your simmer-down plan: If you find that you truly dread your alarm, consider a gradual-awakening alarm, like a wakeup light, which slowly illuminates the room to rouse you. Or use a health tracker like Jawbone Up that nudges you with vibrations when you're in a lighter stage of sleep.

The Morning Rush Hour

No, we're not talking about commuting to work (though more on that in a second), we're talking about the rush of getting out of the door, just hoping you have everything together. Is your key in the bag, where is your smartphone? All this sometimes causes stress.

Your simmer-down plan: Eat a stress-relieving breakfast as kind of a preemptive strike. One study in PNAS found that mice who were fed yogurt in the morning exhibited less anxiety and depression. likely because the good-for-you probiotic bacteria regulate certain brain neurotransmitters that rule mood.

Morning (and Evening) Commute

The morning and evening commute is no doubt very stressful especially if you stay in Lagos and you have to take the Danfo. However, while the thought of commuting on Lagos roads is enough stress, you can do something about it.

Your simmer-down plan: A 2013 Swedish study suggests that feeling satisfied with your commute being entertained or social while on the road, rather than feeling bored or like you're wasting time-- improves overall happiness. Listening to all the bad news on the news only drives down your mood and makes travel time feel worse. Instead, catch up (hands-free if you're in the car) with someone positive in your life or listen to something that makes you feel as if your time is well spent, like a compelling podcast or audiobook.

4 P.M. Snack Alert

You know stress makes you want to eat. But, surprisingly, it peaks at one specific time of the day: the late-afternoon witching hour. That's when stress makes you attracted to food like a hungry bear in the woods, according to a 2015 study in Appetite. Researchers tracked adults' hunger and stress levels across an entire week and found that the highest risk for tension driven hunger was Monday through Friday at 4 p.m.

Your simmer-down plan: You know the drill, keep snacks around for those rough hours and come up with a strategy to deal with the stressor that sends you to mama put. If your office is the root of your unease, here's one strategy: Planning tonight how you'll react in the future to combative coworkers, villainous underminers or a meeting with your boss that you dread can help you cope with stress.

The Afternoon Achoos

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you know how the coughing, sneezing and runny nose can make you supremely unhappy. You're not imagining it: Allergy sufferers have higher rates of depression and sleep problems than healthy individuals, and report lower moods when their symptoms flare up. Midday and afternoon typically sees the highest pollen counts, inducing the most misery.

Your simmer-down plan: Avoid outdoor exercise in the afternoon to quell potential flares.

Walking Through Your Front Door

The rockiest parts of the day are behind you, and it feels amazing, right? Well, in a study that shocked everyone, Penn State researchers found people had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol coursing through their veins when they were at work than when they were at home. Working, they note, is associated with better mental and physical health and can offer women a happy respite from household duties.

Your simmer-down plan: The researchers explain that women in search of a greater work-life balance may think about leaving the workforce, but the study shows that this decision can backfire. Instead, if you're struggling, they suggest trying to add flexibility into your schedule. For example, check with your boss if telecommuting one day a week (even every other week) is doable. And, of course, see how you and your partner can find support for each other. If hiring a babysitter or housecleaner isn't an option, maybe band together with other over-stretched parents with kids in the same class as yours to host a study group that rotates between houses giving one another a break a few nights a week.