In 1936, the concept of stress was defined by Hans Selye as "the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change." He also identified the two kinds of stressors, positive and negative, which he called eustress and distress respectively. Positive stressors, or eustress, are situations that are perceived to be happy or good, such as weddings, childbirth or big family holidays. Negative stressors, or distress, are situations that are traumatizing or unhappy, such as the death of a loved one or an accident. But whether the situation is positive or negative, this rate of wear and tear we subject ourselves to eventually takes its toll on our bodies, and how we deal with the stress is important.

We are all subjected to stress on a daily basis, largely as a consequence of modern life, when we are caught up in the daily grind of work, family, and routine tasks. But its effects on our bodies differ greatly from person to person, largely dependent on the amount of stress we have in our lives and how we handle it. This is evident in the rising number of health problems that can be directly or indirectly attributed to stress, manifesting itself in any number of physical or psychological symptoms. These symptoms are often ignored until it seriously affects our health and wellbeing.

Work stress is incredibly insidious. The pressure to outperform colleagues and attain higher positions, higher salaries and bigger bonuses has become the priority for many people in their desire to reach the American dream. And while pressure is part and parcel of all work and helps to keep us motivated, excessive amounts can lead to stress. This undermines individual performance and productivity, and is costly to employers when the employees become ill.

Surprisingly, stress can easily be avoided by using the power of one word: No. Many of us often try to cram too many activities into our schedules into too little time, leaving us too exhausted to do justice to any of those aforementioned activities. We must teach ourselves to say no without feeling guilty, and learn to delegate tasks to others. The job may not be done the way that you envisioned it would be, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it was done poorly. Saying no means that we get to concentrate on the thing at hand, and by doing so, successfully accomplishing the task.

It may be difficult to say no at first, but it is infinitely better than gaining a reputation for letting people down. Prioritizing and letting go of tasks lets us avoid the pitfalls of being overextended and stressed out. We must weigh our options carefully and ask ourselves if the doing the activity is worth the stress it may add to your life. Is it a long-term or short-term commitment?

There is no need to lie when saying no. There is no shame in admitting that you have more than enough on your plate. Lying and making up bogus excuses will only complicate matters, and when your lie is discovered, people will begin labeling you as a slacker. Practice full disclosure, and be diplomatic.