There’s no denying that many of us have busy lives. But here’s the weird thing about living in the 21st Century. Well, one of the weird things, anyway! We’ve come to regard being stressed as something of a status symbol! The busier and more stressed we are, the more important we must be. Those of us who are not quite so stressed are almost envious of those exciting people who lead such stressful lives!
We have Lost. The. Plot.
The truth is, stress is not a unique creation of modern society. In fact, it’s been around as long as there have been people on the planet. Stress is actually an ancient physical reaction, caused by the body’s instinct to defend itself in dangerous situations. This was great for the cavemen as it helped them cope with the possibility of being attacked by a wild animal. It’s not so great though, for modern man.
When we allow ourselves to become too stressed for too long, our bodies still produce the same fight or flight hormones that gave those cavemen the energy and stamina to run from an angry mammoth, but in us, sitting at our desks worrying about deadlines, they have nowhere to go. So instead, they just run riot inside us, causing all kinds of damage and making us not at all nice to be near.
So, to help you neutralise those stressy feelings, lower your blood pressure and return your heart rate to normal, try these few easy tips:
- Develop a healthy sleeping routine. And if you can, power nap once during the day to recharge.
- Eat well – poor diets exacerbate stress and make you feel tired.
- Exercise more – it helps your body release stress-fighting endorphins.
- Make time for your friends – socialising is a great stress buster, so have fun and laugh more!
- Meditate – this can take many forms, such as deep breathing, stretching, practicing relaxation techniques, or doing a repetitive exercise like walking or swimming.
Most importantly, give yourself a break. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to let go of those things you can’t control.