AAFCS Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) 202 Practice Test

Reducing overload is a practical way to manage stress. Cutting back on responsibilities or commitments helps lower the demands on your time, energy, and resources, which can directly reduce feelings of overwhelm and improve your ability to cope. It’s a proactive step—you’re choosing to reallocate attention to what’s most essential and doable, perhaps by saying no to extra tasks, delegating, or postponing nonessential activities.

Other options tend to keep stress high or create new problems: ignoring problems lets issues fester and often become bigger, arguing with others increases conflict and tension, and avoiding sleep diminishes rest and recovery, making stress harder to handle. Cutting back, by contrast, supports balance and resilience.