Self knowledge and self awareness go a long way towards preventing, or at least mitigating, stress. Knowing that you’re a social introvert, for instance, allows you the freedom of spending time with people, as long as you also create space for decompression and recharging your batteries, so to speak. Knowing that you are not a “joiner” allows you to spend time in groups without feeling pressure to conform.

It is when we force ourselves out of our comfort zone, with no regard for the fact that we are doing it, that we create stress for ourselves. Know your limitations, own them, and honor them. Learn them if you don’t know them. You will be amazed at how this de-stresses you.