I've Got 99 Problems and Stress Is One

Self-care, wellness, and balance is an intentional practice that starts young and you carry it into adulthood. Did you know there is such a thing as National Relaxation Day (celebrated 8/15)? CBS covered a story on students from high achieving high schools suffering from greater rates of anxiety, depression and substance abuse than the national norm due to the overwhelming pressure to succeed. This is a trend that affects us all…I mean, who didn’t escape 2020 without stress?

Today’s competitive environment and the many challenges we face each day can easily elevate our stress levels, sending our cortisol through the roof. Our fight-or-flight response was designed for our survival, but it also gets activated when we’re under tight deadlines, feel disrespected or micromanaged, or lack a sense of community. Your heart beats faster, your breath quickens, glucose floods your bloodstream and your muscles tense. Over time, chronic work stress can contribute to burnout, which is associated with exhaustion, cynicism and a sense of inefficacy. People who can manage their stress levels well and maintain an optimistic outlook tend to outperform their peers who cannot.

High levels of stress can be detrimental to our productivity, immune system, blood sugar, blood pressure, digestion, mental health, relationships, and much more. For the sake of your health, relationships and career, it’s important to learn how to successfully navigate and manage the stressors in daily life. Other areas of life that chronic stress can interfere with include sleep, exercise and balanced eating – all of which directly affect how well we manage stress.

Start with something small and realistic, like setting a timer on your phone for 1 minute to do deep belly breathing or box breathing. You can also download a guided meditation app like Calm or MyLife. For a more in-depth 8-week training by mindfulness leader, Jon Kabat-Zinn, you can register for the free, live, teacher-led course here that teaches you how to be less reactive to stress, cultivate self-awareness and be more fully present. It covers mindfulness meditation/practices, body scanning, and simple yoga movements. Other areas of life that chronic stress can interfere with include sleep, exercise and balanced eating – all of which directly affect how well we manage stress.

What stress management techniques have you found to be most effective?