Stress Relief – Get to it
You gotta get at it, and at it and to it.
You gotta tune your attitude in.
Last week on Stress Relief Tuesday, I spilled a pixel or two on the topic of the two best times to start working on your stress. Basically, if you didn’t start learning how to relieve, and working on relieving, your stress 30 years ago, start now.
Like, right now. Seriously.
Do something. Immediately
But what? Over time, I’ve suggested:
- Breathing exercises
- Physical exercises
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Hobbies
- Pets
- Connecting/reconnecting with those close to you
- Disconnecting from the insanity of modern life
- Taking a walk in nature
- And more
Everything on that list shares a common property. Can you see it?
No?
Okay, here’s the great secret to getting started on kicking your stress. Are you ready for it? I hope you are, because I’m gonna drop a major truth bomb on you. The great secret to getting your stress under control is…to do
SOMETHING
Seriously, that’s it, that’s the secret. Do something, anything, it really doesn’t matter what.
Yes, there are more effective methods for metabolising cortisol, and there are less effective methods for metabolising cortisol, but that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you pick one, and do it.
Last week I was away on vacation. My dear bride and I ran almost every day, and I could feel (and my Fitbit could track) my stress melting away. Seriously, my resting heart rate dropped 4 bpm in two days.
My little fellow and I took a side trip to Paisley, and went fishing (he caught 16 small mouth bass and a crawfish), and seeing his joy I could feel my stress melting away.
I put my phone on the charger, and went down to the beach and sat watching my kids play in the lake, and I could feel my stress melting away.
I cleared my email backlog and did a research call for my pilot course, and I could feel the stress from being behind melting away.
That particular stress, of being behind, is pretty common amongst busy, driven, high achiever types. I think it warrants a post all of its own, so I will leave it until next week.
