Beating Stress

Stress will wreak havoc on every single one of us. Living with bad stress for an extended period of time will do horrible things to your health. You don’t have to put up with it. Understanding what stress is and learning to deal with it will give you the edge you need to remain healthy and productive.
Essentially, stress is the fight or flight reaction  innate in all of us. When confronted with a perceived threat the body begins to release chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol that give the shot of strength and speed you need to either fight your enemy, or to flee from them. Understand that your body and your mind deal with life on this very basic level.

Every time you have a task to do, a problem at home, a meeting, etc. your body sees it as a threat, so it releases these chemicals. The problem is you cannot run away from a task, nor can you beat up elders or people that go to your church. Your body will keep you in this heightened state until the issue causing the stress is resolved.
The best way to deal with stress is to resolve the issues causing the stress.
I realize that this may sound like an over simplification, but that doesn’t make it false. If you are being honest with yourself you will admit  the majority of the things bothering you right now are the tasks  you have not completed, the conflicts you have not resolved, and the decisions you have not made. All of those things fester in your mind, and eat away at your spirit and your body.
So here is how you deal with it. Make a plan, or find a system, and work it!

If you are not sure where to begin check out David Allen’s book Getting Things Done. Yes, it is a book on productivity, but this one is actually useful. It’s not just about living out your priorities, like some other productivity systems are. The problem is that just because something isn’t your priority doesn’t mean you don’t have to do it, and the longer you leave it unresolved the more stress it creates.
I wish I could write you a full summary, but since I don’t want his publishing company to come after me, I just have to tell you to read the book. Trust me you will be glad you did.