Stress is your body’s natural response to danger. You feel threatened, and so a chemical reaction takes place in your body which allows you to be more alert and better-equipped to handle an intense situation. Your heart races, your breathing quickens, your blood pressure rises and your muscles tighten. This reaction is known as the “fight-or-flight” response; your body is ready to fight.
However, often the problems you face aren’t things you can run away from or fight your way out of, and so the stress continues and your body stays in that revved-up, fight-or-flight state. According to a study published in the journal Annals of Behavioural Medicine, people who are more stressed may also be more likely to develop chronic health conditions, such as heart disease or arthritis, over 10 years, so what can you do to de-stress your life?
Firstly, try the “Will it matter 5 months from now?” test. Think of something that gets you feeling stressed an anxious, such as missing a flight or forgetting a friend’s birthday. Are you still going to care about it in a few months, weeks or even days from now? Yes, your life would have been easier if you got those things right the first time, but they are solvable problems. There’s always another flight to catch, or another belated birthday card to send. Breathe, forgive yourself, and let it go.
If that mindset sounds a little easier said than done, create a distraction. Sometimes, there’s nothing you can actively do to help or solve your situation, so then it’s best to put it out of your mind. If you’ve got nothing to do but worry, that’s all you’re going to do. Take your mind off things by creating a project for yourself, or starting an intense exercise session. You may even find that taking a step back will help you to see the situation in a whole new, solvable light.