Stress

Stress management is something I struggle with and have all of my life to my detriment. When I get over-stressed I either lash out or shut down, sometimes I pull an “ostrich” and bury my head in the sand. Of course, this is no way to live. You cannot run from stress or put yourself in a bad position because of it. The more you do in life, the more responsibilities you take, the more people rely on you, the more stress you will have to deal with and you will need to deal with it at some point. Some people deal with stress through unsafe life choices. I have known many who admitted to me they drank themselves to sleep some nights. I do not want to live that way but I also do not want to live a life that is without rigor. An approach is something I needed to find.

Stress is something that all of us deal with unfortunately, but there are ways I have found to manage it. First, adopt the right mindset. Stoicism is my chosen path. Focus on what you can control, accept what you cannot. There are so many great books about there, Ryan Holiday himself is a champion of the school and has written many books on it. If you are interested in this philosophy then do the research. I think there is some misunderstanding in what it entails. At its core it is about focus. If you try to control that you cannot you are wasting your energy. You cannot control the weather. You cannot control the actions of others. You can control your own actions though, and you can control your reaction to a day of rain when you planned to be outside.

Secondly, find something that helps work out the cortisol in your muscle. For me, it is physically demanding work. House and garden maintenance are all I can do since I work a sedentary job, but there is enough at my home to keep me busy. Just power-washing the house and what that entails, like going up and down ladders, carrying hoses, spraying mildew, putting things away, all add up to fairly taxing. When I finish I am exhausted, but I always feel better. I am not the only one who does this, there are many famous leaders who did the same. Ronald Reagan famously chopped wood at his ranch, George Bush “cleared brush”. If you find yourself with stress that cannot be managed, find something you can do, and do not forget, you can volunteer time to do these for others as well.

Lastly, I recommend a hobby. In my life I have been a fly fisherman, computer gamer, photographer, tech-dabbler, reader, and trap-shooter. Hobbies help you take your mind off what is bothering you, and they also give you skills in other areas that may help you in your profession. I learned about leadership volunteering in outdoor organizations and Scouting America. I’ve relied on those experiences for my career.

Finally, now that we are rounding up my series on my health regiment, let’s talk about meals…