Stress is the natural human body response to perceived immediate danger. It triggers the 'Fight or Flight' (or in my case, FREEZE!) response where we either make a run for it or swing a punch or two when we get mugged on the street.. Or told off by the boss. I'm assuming the latter is the more common problem. Stress is biologically and evolutionary vital for the safety of the human body. So why is it so wicked?
Because we're always stressed. We live in a world where we (apparently) we must work 8-12 hour days 5-7 days a week, make enough money to pay the bills and buy the latest iPad, commute ridiculous hours in ridiculous urban nightmares, have a relationship, look after the kids, finish that project before the boss loses his cool, have beers and wine with your friends every Friday night, and the list goes on and on and on and on...
Of course we're stressed. Society's expectations are staggeringly high. Instead of having the rare occasion where we are faced with danger, we're faced with the continuous 'danger' of expectations. And it's not just expectations from the boss that gets us in a huff, we tend to place expectations on ourselves to be perfect.
So what does all this stress do to our bodies? Oh, a number of fun things.
- Overweight/weight problems
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Skin conditions
- Depression / Anxiety
- Asthma
- Arthritis
And this is only a short list of problems related to stress. Sounds great huh?
Stress is a natural human response but prolonged stress is clearly very detrimental to our health. We are always going to be faced with stressful events so our best line of defence is improving our ability to respond and manage the stress. Here's my top tip for coping with stress!
Ok maybe not...
Try these instead!
1. Avoid the stressor: Learn to say no!
Know what you can and can't do, and politely say no to requests and expectations that you are not willing to do.
2. Alter the stressor: Manage your time better!
Poor time management is a catalyst for stress. Stick to a routine or prepare in advance all the important things you need to do and schedule them in. Make sure you schedule some time for yourself!
3. Adapt to the stressor: Focus on the positive!
There are some things you just can't change. So focus on the positives instead. They are there, trust me. If you really can't see the positives in the situation, reflect back on positive memories or the things you appreciate in your life. Express gratitude, it's a glorious thing.
There are some things you just can't change. So focus on the positives instead. They are there, trust me. If you really can't see the positives in the situation, reflect back on positive memories or the things you appreciate in your life. Express gratitude, it's a glorious thing.
4. Accept the stressor: Don't control things you can't control!
Sometimes, the situation is out of our hands. Recognize and accept this.Focus on the things you can control instead, like your response to the situation.
How do you manage stress?
