STRESSED OUT ON CONVENIENCE
Modern life — isn’t it grand? Think about all the conveniences we have today; cell phones, microwaves, air travel, modern appliances, personal computers, even cars that tell us if we are lost. Most Americans today can have almost instant comfort, information and convenience at the touch of a button. What more could we ask for? Life should be great one would think.
And yet, with that modern life and all those “conveniences” it can bring about a steady course of stress in our lives. Do you ever feel like your brain is about to explode from information overload? With these modern conveniences it can seem like our switch is always in the “on” position. We now have the ability to know what is going on at all times all day long all over the world. We wouldn’t think of leaving the house without our cell phone. We have text, twitter, email, instagram and who knows what else. We are always connected and while that can be beneficial it also can bring stress and anxiety.
About 1 in 4 Americans say they have dealt with a great deal of stress in the previous month. And, approximately half of all adults say they had a significant stressful event in the last year. Stress is a normal factor of life but living “stressed out” doesn’t have to be.
Were people stressed out years ago? The answer is probably yes and no. They felt stress but it was at a different level and of course the reasons would have been different. Their world was so much smaller back then. You had to wait, (can you believe it?) for the evening news to come on or go out and buy a paper to find out what was going on. Now, you can’t turn on your computer or look at your phone without instant updates flashing and beeping the latest and sometimes not the greatest.
It’s sad to say, but with all these conveniences, we have had to forfeit something and that is patience, time and even sometimes peace of mind. We try to cram as much in our day as we can and feel guilty when we don’t accomplish everything on our list. Even employers seem to expect more out of their employees as companies downsize and make those left to do the work of two people bringing about more stress. It can seem like our life has turned into one giant multi-tasking operation. In the process we have become people who can’t hardly wait for the microwave to boil water in a minute and a half as we go through life at break neck speed.
We don’t just sit and enjoy a meal today because it has become commonplace now to eat in front of the TV with our laptop open with the ever present cell phone nearby. Just for kicks and giggles this Easter if you get together with your family, take notice of how many cell phones are out and on the table (you know, just in case……) That should be enlightening. We browse Facebook and Twitter while sending emails at the same time we answer those incoming texts. It makes us feel accomplished thinking we are doing so many things at once even though it’s been proven that multi-tasking is counter productive. These habits now even start with young people. If you have kids, watch how they can’t just watch a movie without staying “connected” through their phone. I had a mom tell me she saw her son doing homework on the computer with the tv on while texting on his phone all at the same time. That seems to be the norm today.
We need to give our minds a rest from the constant bombardment of stimuli that is out there just waiting to get our attention. I have noticed that a lot of the time it is negative information that we receive on a constant basis. Don’t get me wrong, I know social media has it’s benefits. But take notice how many times the information IS negative and makes you feel bad or even fearful and you know there is nothing you can do about it.
Stress can easily creep up on you and then you can get so used to it that eventually it feels normal. You might not even realize how much it’s affecting you. It can take a toll on your mind, body and relationships in many ways. That is why it is important to learn how to recognize when your stress levels are out of control.
There are so many ways being overly stressed can show up but a few common symptoms can include:
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS
Feeling agitated, frustrated, moody.
Feeling overwhelmed, like you are losing control or need to take control
Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
Low energy
Headaches
Stomach issues
Insomnia
Aches, pains, tense muscles
Frequent infections and colds
COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS
Constant worrying
Racing thoughts
Inability to focus
Being pessimistic or only seeing the negative side
BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS
Changes in appetite
Procrastinating and avoiding responsibilities
Exhibiting more nervous behaviors, such as nail biting, fidgeting, and pacing
We all know that life is not always easy, and it is not realistic to think we can breeze through without encountering stressful situations from time to time. However, we can be in charge of what we expose ourselves to and weed out sources that bring us unneeded stress. We can take charge of our thoughts, emotions, schedule, environment and the way we deal with problems. If we can’t change a stressful situation we can determine our reaction to it. We need to take care of ourselves and make time for rest and relaxation.
If you do feel overwhelmed and are experiencing any of the symptoms above and would like help with ways to destress your life and get on a better path to well being I would love to meet with you. You can contact me at (616) 516-1570 or use the easy contact link on the website.
