YOU 1 - STRESS 0

Stress!

Just the idea is haunting. It comes in different forms and intensities. It definitely gets us overthinking, overworked, over worried, and you know what, over stressed. It is very difficult to manage it, and it takes a different perspective to deal with it properly. There is no simple cure, but we believe there are things we can do to combat it. And the end goal is to make our distress into eustress. 

This post is not designed to tell us the adverse effects that stress can have. It is not design to say stop stressing because science tells us it is going to hurt us. It is not even designed to give us a prescription. But what it is intended to do is put some perspective into things and acknowledge that we are human. But it is about time we turn the tables on it and own it. 

What can we do? 
We must prioritize. No one human being can finish a complete “To Do” list. We are limited in time. But we must put the most critical things on the top. Whatever adds most value should have the highest rank.  And whatever you feel you may regret if you do not get to complete it, must go towards the top as well. Get as much as you can get done, but do get the important things first. Additionally, if you can, outsource a couple of your chores to get more time for yourself.

We must remind ourselves that there is always good in what we have. We may have different situations that test and try us. But we must never let one bad thing ruin five good things. We should learn from mistakes, but never get consumed from them. Happiness has much to do with how we feel. Managing stress is a direct impact on how happy we are. So what we recommend is always take 10 minutes of your day to think and compliment yourself, laugh, and look at the good the day has to offer. Pat yourself on the back for all that you have accomplished and are still capable of accomplishing. 

Know you are not alone and do not be afraid to ask for help. There are many people who feel what you feel. But life still moves on. Maybe and just maybe, it could be because collectively, society is doing something right. I would say that we do a lot of good. Take solace in the fact that we are together. And in addition to asking for help, don’t be afraid to help out others too.

Know that sometimes less is more. Smart simplifications in your lifestyle could make all the difference. Now, it is not reasonable to adjust a whole lifestyle and no one should expect that. But we can work smarter by finding better processes. We can be more organized by preparing a little earlier. We can feel less concentrated by buying things that truly make us happy. 

Make the time to exercise and make better diet decisions. The most underutilized depressant is physical activity. This can change your life. It can make you feel more energetic and happy. It would improve your overall quality of life and help you manage stress a little better. If you have fifteen minutes to spare, use it to walk, jump rope, lift weights, or stretch. Exercise has been said to be the most underutilized antidepressant.

Final Word:
This post is not designed to say, “ok all your worries have been fixed”. It is intended, however, to put perspective that we are privileged. And if we have a lot or a little, let us be thankful. Let us want to do more and achieve great things, but on the way to success, let us take time to celebrate our accomplishments. Let us win in life and manage stress. Let us just kick it in the behind!