There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about the direction the world is heading. And guess who the decks are stacked against? We’re pretty sure you can figure that one out. Hardworking people who get up, go to work, and just want to live an ordinary and peaceful life are thrown into a vicious cycle of unrelenting turbulence and cynicism. World events affect our health, whether we realize it or not. More on this later.
We Have Enough to Worry About!
Do we really need another source of stress? None of us want to stress. Sometimes we need to deal with it to get along in life. But why are we asking for more? If you’re fortunate enough to have a steady income, the odds are that you stress too much about work – and probably about finances.
Maybe you or a family member has a disability. Maybe your savings are dwindling if you have any at all.
When one problem gets resolved, another always seems to pop up, doesn’t it?
Now ask yourself: “Do I really want to take on more stress? Why?”
Coping Tips
When the information we take in triggers a negative response, it has a very real impact on our health. Stress is stress; doesn’t matter if the source of stress is personal or not.
That said, let’s take a look at some ways to deal with stress caused by what you see, read, or hear.
6 Ways to Deal With Stress Naturally
1. Keep Your Mind On One Thing
Did you know that the average person has 50,000-70,000 thoughts per day? While we may take a bit of pride in this number – the brain is a remarkable organ – being mindful of what we think about is essential.
Focus on the task at hand. Discard the extraneous garbage that you don’t need. Including obnoxious new anchors and news hosts.
2. Do Things You Enjoy
At the risk of sounding incredibly cliché, life is too damn short! It can’t (and shouldn’t) be all serious, all of the time.
Getting out the rut that is negativity bias can be difficult, so make it (much) simpler by doing the things you “get lost in.” Maybe it’s painting, writing, computer games, meditation, or reading.
You’ll feel much more relaxed and rejuvenated.
3. Talk to People
Keeping with the “Life is too damn short!” theme, take the time to visit your family and friends. Share a good meal, go out together, or just sit around and talk.
Of course, try not to limit yourself to friends and family. If that’s all you can manage, fine; but there’s a whole world out there! Trying joining a group of some sort; one that stokes your passions and adds some much needed Joie de vivre.
4. Stay Healthy
While most of us (including yours truly) enjoy the occasional grub/beer/wine-fest, make it a priority to stay healthy.
People have a propensity to over-complicate health. Don’t listen to the 8-pack abs infomercial. Here’s everything you need for basic health:
– Eat 3-5 healthy meals per day.
– Abstain or cut back on alcohol and nicotine.
– Get 30+ minutes of moderate exercise per day (break it up into chunks, if easier.) Make the exercise something fun!
– Drink at least six, eight-ounce glasses of water per day.
– Practice diaphragmic breathing or mindfulness meditation.
5. Limit Your News Exposure
In fact, try limiting your T.V. time, period. Television, while it’s relaxing for an hour or two here and there, is pretty much a waste of time and brainpower.
If nothing else, limit the time spent watching the news. Instead, try scanning the headlines on Google News, Reuters, or your local paper. Bypass the garbage and only read what you think is essential. (Like sports.)
6. Make A Difference
Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Can you imagine the difference if everyone allocated just 10 percent of their time devoted to entertainment and “news” and did something to better humanity?
While we all want to make the world better, the uncomfortable truth is too many of us are spectators and not participants.
Make a personal pledge to help one person a day. How does this change the world? Via the “multiplier effect.”
See, when you help just one person, you aren’t just helping one person. You’re making it more likely that they’ll help someone, and that “someone” to help someone – and so on.
You’re being the change.
May you be happy and at peace this day and the next.
https://youtu.be/lFdcCXmGpy4
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