Stop Stressing Out

Photo by Craig Adderley

I often reflect on the daily grind and wonder how we get through it. The stresses of work and family alone can drive one to the funny farm. Why do we do this to ourselves? We can come up with plenty of reasons, but we still need to keep our lives in check before it is too late.

A good friend of mine just told me about one of his friends who passed away last weekend by slipping off an infinity pool and breaking his neck. He was 38 years old.

Another close friend of mine decided to take a weeklong vacation to enjoy a break from his stressful work schedule only to have his vacation plans blow up on his first day. His accommodations fell through upon arrival. He had to scramble to find new accommodations while keeping his pregnant wife and 7-year old daughter happy on day 1 of a much anticipated weeklong vacation.

Stressors can hit us from all angles. Kids act like kids when we want them to act like adults. Clients act like kids when we want them to act like adults. Even spouses act like kids when we want them to act like adults. Whatever the situation, they can pile up to the point where our blood pressure goes up to unhealthy levels, sleep deprivation sets in, our overall health gets neglected, and our quality of life suffers for an inordinate amount of time. This state of being can take years off of our lives if we don't do something about it.

We cannot always control the stressors we are exposed to, but we do have a choice in how we respond to them. We can go into our own “kid tantrum” and pour gas on the proverbial fire, or we can take a step back, breathe, and diffuse the situation with a cool head.

I realize that the latter approach can be easier said than done when you are under the pressure cooker. That said, there are ways to prevent potential blow ups from happening by putting yourself in a better mental state overall. For starters, look at the bigger picture of your own life and ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish before your time is up.

Is it to make a lot of money? Careful. That can come at a big expense.

Is it to be healthy and happy? We will take that but remember that some level of financial security will reduce stress.

How about finding a balance of both? I work with a lot of professionals who are making good money, but feeling stressed because they have no time to enjoy the things and people that are most important to them.

When you feel like you are on the train to misery, it is time to get off and change your destination. Reaching nirvana might not happen overnight, but let’s not forget that we have a finite period of time on this planet. Like with the friend who tragically fell off the infinity pool, we cannot predict when our time is up so what is the point in waiting. Start taking charge of the things that you can control to put yourself in a better mental state before it is too late.   ​